Judith Reynard
At the age of 80, Judie passed away peacefully on December 25th with her daughters by her side.
Judie is predeceased by her husband, Glenn (Hookie) Reynard, her mother and father, Elizabeth and Allan Craig, her mother and father-in-law, Lea and Raoul Reynard, brother in law Allie Reynard and sister in laws Bette-Lou Reynard, Carol Zass, and Gail Reynard. She will be missed tremendously by her daughters, Melissa and Melanie Reynard, her sister Charlotte Craig and brother Thomas (Cathy) Craig, her nieces and nephews Tara (Derek Johnson) Bergner, Sasha (Greg) Carter, Tommy Craig, Lisa Craig, sister in law Joanne Frost and brother in law Dohn Zass. She had many carrying little friends Jodi, Amanda, Bobby Newman, Addyson and Avery Kasprick, and Koby and Sophie Young who provided great love and entertainment to her.
Judie was born in Pembroke, Ontario and was the eldest of the three Craig children. At the age of 14 the family moved to Winnipeg, where Judie completed high school at St. James Collegiate and United College and went on to pursue her teaching certificate. This was the career Judie was destined to fulfill. Her first teaching position was in Kenora Ontario, and this was where Judie met Hookie and they shared their beautiful life together for over 53 years.
Judie was not just any teacher. Judie was the best teacher a child or parent could ask for. She invested her whole heart and soul into her students. Her house became a shrine of “Best Teacher Awards”, or personal handprinted flowerpots that were flooded with love. Judie’s love of providing the power of literacy to hundreds was immeasurable, but she knew her role was more than just providing academic knowledge to her students. She made sure they all felt loved, accepted, and important – that they were perfect just the way they were. She remembered every student by name and took great joy in reconnecting with them – whether by accident or on purpose.
Judie and Hook lived most of their married life on Blindfold Lake. They built their dream home on the lake in the 1970’s and lived there until they relocated into town in their retirement years. The summers at the “Reynard Lodge” were spectacular – not just filled with visitors of the two-legged kind – but often filled with visiting wildlife – bears, wolves, geese, you name it. This is where they raised their girls Meese and Mel, and where everyone came to visit. If you came for a visit to Jud and Hook’s, you were always in for an incredible time filled with amazing food (Judie was an incredible cook and her Nanaimo bar and chocolate cakes were something of mythical marvelment), and unpredictable and enjoyable entertainment. It was like their home had arms that just gave you a big hug when you walked up the front porch stairs. You never wanted to leave.
Judie had many passions. Of course, for many years it was running Meese and Mel around to their activities, and part time jobs, but she always had time for sewing. Much to her daughters’ chagrin, she took great joy in sewing them matching outfits. In later year she took on quilting, and probably owned more quilting squares than most quilt shops in Canada. She could never pass up a good pattern or design. She was sure she would get to making something spectacular out of it. We are all so grateful for her passions, being gifted her treasures through the years.
Judie had great friends in life, and she was a great friend to others. She always had time for a coffee or a visit, and when you were Judie’s friend, you knew it. She had this inexplainable way of drawing people in and making all seem right in the world.
Judie’s laugh was legendary. It was loud, it was shrieky, and it came right from her toes. There was no greater sound in the world than to hear her laugh, and she laughed A LOT. Her favorite term to call someone she cared about was “dear”. Whether it was a “hello dear”, or “how you doing dear”, and we will all miss hearing that voice.
We know that Hookie is so happy to have his bride with him once again. He was probably getting tired looking after all their animals – as many they had loved before would be greeting her upon her arrival. We are going to miss her every day, but she has left our lives so rich, and with such vivid and beautiful memories and we are so grateful and blessed to have had her arms around us for all these years.
The family cannot extend enough thanks to the nurses on 2East for such kind and loving care you all provided mom in her stay at the LOWDH. The family would like to thank the 2East staff for accepting her prize winning quilt and hanging it on the ward. The Dr’s at Keewatin Clinic you were wonderful with the time and care you provided Mom.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to Heart of Knox Quilting Group c/o Knox United Church, Kenora, Ontario
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.brownfuneralhomekenora.com for the Reynard family.