In Memory Of
Marjorie “Eleanor” Irwin
Editor: As many of you are aware, the Irwin family has been part of life on Boshkung Lake since 1922, when Cecil and John Irwin decided the “Three Pines Point” was the most desirable property available.
“So, their Mother, for three hundred dollars, purchased the area from the bay to the river . . . “
Their story is found sprinkled throughout Boshkung Lake Memoirs published by the BLPOA in 2001 (recently reprinted) and, especially, in Irwin, Stories of the People found at Pages 104 and 105.
Dr. Marjorie Eleanor Irwin (née Gray), a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and respected scholar, died Thursday morning, January 9, 2025, at her home on Boshkung Lake, at the age of 87. Born on April 29, 1937,
in Toronto, Eleanor was the daughter of Joseph Everard Gray and Gladys Malcolm. She was predeceased by her brother Malcolm (1929), her sister Dr. Marion Powell (1997) (Rev. Donald Powell), and her brother Dr. Gordon Gray (2023) (Mary Locke).
Eleanor was a niece by marriage of Cecil & Jean Irwin who operated Sherwood Forest Camp on Boshkung Lake from 1934 to 1964.
Eleanor’s life was defined by her deep love for family, her passion for Classical Studies, and her dedication to education. She was the cherished wife of Dr. John Wesley Irwin for 63 years, a partnership built on mutual respect, love, and shared intellectual curiosity. Together, they raised four children: Dr. John Joseph Irwin (Olesia, San Francisco), Marjorie Elizabeth Robertson (Dr. Bruce Robertson, Sackville, NB), Peter David Gordon Irwin (Sackville, NB), and Dr. Andrew James Gray Irwin (Dr. Zoe Finkel, Halifax), all of whom carry forward her legacy of curiosity, learning, and compassion.
Eleanor was the proud grandmother of Raphael and Gabriel Irwin (Köln, Germany), Dr. Phoebe Robertson (Russellville, Arkansas), and Joel Robertson (Lia, Toronto). Her grandchildren brought her great joy, and she cherished each moment spent with them.
A dedicated academic, Eleanor joined the faculty at the University of Toronto Scarborough in 1969, where she made significant contributions to the field of Classical Studies. Her research focused on colour terms and plant names in Classical Greek poetry, as well as the careers of Classicists, with a particular interest in the often-overlooked contributions of women in the field. Her work was widely recognized, earning her the prestigious Ralph Campbell Award twice (1984 and 2015), as well as a University of Toronto Arbor Award in 2013.
Her "Colour Terms in Greek Poetry”, published in 1974 is still available, as are many juried articles in academic journals.
Beyond her scholarly pursuits, Eleanor was an avid gardener, finding solace and inspiration in her flowers and plants. She also enjoyed preaching occasionally and played the electric organ for services at St. Peter’s Maple Lake.
Eleanor’s warmth, intellect, and unwavering commitment to family and community will be deeply missed. She leaves behind a lasting legacy in both her academic contributions and the love she cultivated within her family.
Cheri Hicks
Beth Joan Dies (nee Byers)
Beth Joan Dies (nee Byers) passed away peacefully in the presence of family on October 23, 2024. Predeceased by her loving husband of 70 years William Price Dies, her twin sister June McDougall (nee Byers), and her brother Douglas Byers, and survived by her children June (Bob), Paul (Nancy), Rob (Leah), and Joanne (Scott), her grandchildren Todd, Devon, Sam, Rachel, Sarah, Evan, Hannah and Emily, her great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Beth Joan Dies, who went by Mom, Nana, Great-Nana, Auntie Joan or Joan. Joan was born on July 18, 1930, on Lessard Avenue, Toronto, and raised in Toronto, Ontario. Joan attended Humberside Collegiate and went on to pursue a nursing career, graduating from St. Joseph's Hospital School of Nursing in 1952. Joan placed great value on friendships and maintained friends from her high school and nursing days throughout her life.
Joan met her husband William (Bill) when her parents purchased a plot of land on Boshkung Lake on Thanksgiving in 1947, just down the lake from where the Dies family had purchased a plot that same weekend. They were married in 1953 and had four children, whom they raised in Toronto and at their second home at the cottage. Joan cherished her time at the cottage, and especially the time she shared there with her sister June, who after moving to Pennsylvania in her 20s made the drive to Boshkung each summer, where her kids grew up alongside Joan's as cousins and friends.
In addition to their role as devoted parents, Bill and Joan continued a lifelong journey of learning and adventure, travelling around the world and exploring a diverse range of hobbies at home. For over a decade Joan participated in a group of barbershop singers known as the Sweet Adelines, who travelled all over Canada and the US competing and even competed in England at Royal Albert Hall. Bill and Joan were deeply involved in their church community - first in West Hill, where she sang in the choir, and later at Aurora United Church. Joan was a lifelong member of the United Church Women (UCW). She also stayed very active - with Bill and her "ladies from the lake" - she was an avid curler, tried her hand at skiing, tennis and golf, and loved to go for walks down the cottage road with her friends and family and their many dogs.
She continued her education, going back to school to do a nursing refresher course in 1974 and graduating at the top of her class.Joan loved to read, to listen to her favourite hymns, to play Chinese checkers, to lounge by the lake, and to eat ice cream (after every meal). She was deeply involved in the lives of her eight grandchildren, who loved spending their summers at the cottage with their Nana and Papa, and who were fortunate to be able to introduce their Nana to five great-grandchildren over the last few years.
After 70 years of loving marriage, Bill passed away in December 2023, and Joan moved to Aspira Cedarvale Lodge, where she received excellent care, allowing her to spend her last days in dignity and peace. Joan connected with the staff and residents over her quick wit, love for conversation, and sweet tooth. Joan's family and friends hold her dearly in our hearts and are grateful for many years of wonderful memories and love.
The Celebration of Joan’s Life will be held on May 31st, 2025, at Trinity Anglican Church in Aurora (79 Victoria Street Aurora, Ontario), hosted by Aurora United Church. The service will be from 11am to 12pm, with a gathering following from 12-2pm in the church hall. We ask that any donations to be given in Joan's honor be given to the 'Rising From The Ashes' campaign for Aurora United Church, which was an important part of Bill and Joan's lives. More information is available at https://www.auroraunitedchurch.ca/pages/give.
Isobel Canham
Isobel peacefully passed away on April 15th, 2024, in the Ajax/Pickering Hospital. She was 91. Isobel had a fall on April 11th and fractured her hip. She had surgery on Friday April 12th and did not recover from it. Isobel was an amazing wife to Ron for 71 years. Loving Mother to Craig, Steve, and Chris. A wonderful mother-in-law to Ulli.
Grandmother to Quinn, Marcus, Melissa and her husband Terry, and great grandmother to Kayla and Tyler. See loved her family & spending as much time as she could with them.
Many people may not know this, but Isobel entered into a beauty contest at the age of 16 andwon 1st place. When her children were young, she volunteered at her Church & would assist in the office, as well as teach a Sunday School class.
Isobel was also involved with the Ronald McDonald House. Isobel and a group of her close friends would cater the event. They prepared the appetizers and meals, brought them to the event and served them as well. All proceeds would go to the Ronald McDonald House. They did this for several years.
Isobel and Ron (who passed away Jan 3, 2024) joined the Boshkung community when they purchased their cottage in December 1984, and quickly became part of the group who eventually called themselves “The Usual Suspects”. This group took their friendship and laughter to the tennis court, the golf course, the card table, and gatherings at each other’s cottages.
Isobel loved to entertain, play cards, golf, bake, garden & do lots of reading. Her most enjoyable times were spending time with family & friends & of course with good ole Ronnie. She will be greatly missed.
A Celebration of Life will be held for Ron and Isobel on June 22, 2024
At Knight’s Corner Pub & Grill, 605 Kingston Rd., Pickering, Ontario L1V3N7 between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Klaus Dittmar
Klaus August Eduard Dittmar of Aurora, Ontario passed away on May 6th, 2024 in his 96th year, being cared for and comforted by his beloved daughter, Stefanie Lee. In addition to Stefanie, he leaves behind his son-in-law, Arthur Lee and his grandchildren, David Lee of Ottawa and Caroline Lee of Victoria, B.C. Klaus was predeceased by the love of his life, his wife Anne (Wiltraud) Dittmar, his parents, Ida and Erich Dittmar and his brother Horst Dittmar. In Germany, he also leaves behind his younger sisters, Gisela, Helga and Karin and his nephew Andreas Knoll.
Born on October 8th, 1928 in Koesternitz, Pommern, Germany, Klaus was the second son of Ida and Erich Dittmar. In 1938, just before the onset of WWII, his family moved to Stargard, Pommern, Germany. At the tender age of 10, Klaus was required to join the Junkvolk, our version of the Boy Scouts. At the age of 15, he was forced to join the war and nearly lost his arm when he was shot (twice in the same arm) if it wasn’t for the care and compassion of an English doctor that treated him.
Forever changed by the devastation and suffering he witnessed during the war, he was determined to start a new life outside of Germany after the war ended. Before he did, he met a very pretty young kindergarten teacher named Wiltraud, who he fell in love with. As he told the story many years later, he couldn’t tell his friends her name was Wiltraud, so he changed it to “Anne” and it stayed with her.
Since his landed immigrant visa came through from Canada first, he chose Canada for his new life with her instead of Australia and travelled ahead to find employment. Having worked as an apprentice at different factories after the war making construction parts and motorized bicycles, he always had an aptitude for engineering and loved to learn how things worked. In April 1952, he sailed to Canada on the M.S. Italia and found work as a machinist at the Westinghouse Co. in Hamilton, Ontario. In December, 1952, against the wishes of her parents, his “Anne” followed and joined him in Hamilton. Three days later, on December 13th, 1952, they were married at the German Protestant Church in Hamilton.
Newly married and wanting more out of life for themselves and their future family, he enrolled at the Faculty of Education in Toronto in September 1956 and became a teacher, just like his grandfather, Eduard. His first job after graduation was in Sudbury, where Stefanie was born in 1960 and he and Anne met many life-long friends. After Sudbury, they moved to Aurora, where they settled and raised Stefanie. Klaus taught and became the Technical Department Head at Dr. G.W. Williams Secondary School in Aurora until his retirement in 1987.
While teaching, he and Anne were encouraged by another teacher to purchase land at the site of the original Houser Farm on the beautiful shores of Boshkung Lake in the Haliburton Highlands, approximately two hours north of Aurora. Klaus and Anne built their dream cottage, furnished beautifully and carefully from IKEA, and it became a cherished place to enjoy refreshing early morning swims, relaxing kayak rides, the latest cottage building project, dinners on the deck and sunset evenings for themselves and their family.
To know Klaus was to know someone that was always interested in what you thought and what your interests were, especially those of his cherished and beloved grandchildren, David and Caroline. Almost always, he would begin by saying, “Let me say this about that” and then if you weren’t listening closely enough he’d say, “Do you want my advice or do you want to make your own mistakes?”
Klaus made a lasting impact on all that knew him, especially his family. He will be deeply missed, but never forgotten.
His family is deeply grateful for the compassionate care he received by Dr. Habib, the staff and caregivers at Delmanor Aurora.
In accordance with Klaus’ wishes, he has been cremated and a Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.
Ginny Hopkings
In Memoriam
Ginny Hopkings, teacher, wife, mother, and beautiful soul, left us on March 9, 2024.
Born Virginia Ruth James in Sudbury, Ontario, Ginny spent her early years in Timmins, later moving to Port Credit. She completed her post-secondary studies at the University of Toronto.
In 1954, Ginny married Jim Hopkings and they settled in Oakville, where they would remain for many happy years.
Ginny began her career as a teacher in the public school system. After taking time off for a number of years to raise her two children, she returned to teaching at Sheridan College where she taught ESL to adult students. The many gifts she received from those students over the years spoke both to her teaching skill and the empathy she showed the people who were coming to Canada to seek a better life.
In retirement she and Jim moved to their beloved cottage on Boshkung Lake. Ginny took up Tai Chi with great enthusiasm and advanced enough to become an instructor. The combination of teaching and Tai Chi resulted in what may have been the most rewarding time of her life.
In a tradition that began with Jim’s mother, Ginny has donated her body to the University of Toronto medical program.
Ginny will be forever missed by her sister Doreen, her daughter Kirsty (Stephan), her son Jamie (Mary Lynn), her grandchildren Carter, Brody, Whitney (Gord), Jordan (Courtney), and her great-granddaughter Hazel.
A celebration of Ginny’s life will be held at a later date.
Ron Canham
Ron passed away on Wednesday January 3 2024, peacefully in the Ajax/Pickering Hospital. Ron was a wonderful husband to Isobel for 71 Years. Father to Craig, Steve and Chris, amazing father-in-law to Ulli. Grandfather to Quin, Marcus, Melissa and her husband Terry. Great Grandfather to Kayla and Tyler.
Ron and Isobel joined the Boshkung community when they purchased their cottage in December 1984, and quickly became part of the group who eventually called themselves “The Usual Suspects”. This group took their friendship and laughter to the tennis court, the golf course, the card table, and gatherings at each other’s cottages.
Ron was a skilled tennis player and he was very competitive. While playing, before he would serve he’d often shout across the net, “This is going to be like one of those plastic bottles you buy at the grocery store …. it is non-returnable”.
He loved golf. He wasn’t particularly good but he thoroughly enjoyed getting out with the guys. Something which always made his friends laugh was that he had names for all his clubs. The club he used most was a chipper which he used around the green. It was an old club from another era which he called Tom Thumb. When he hit a good chip he would praise Tom and when he hit a bad chip he would scold Tom and tell him that he wouldn’t let him out of the bag again unless he promised to do better.
One day at Blairhampton, after about four holes there was a torrential downpour. What to do but go indoors and have a beverage or two. With pouring rain outdoors, beer and pickled eggs indoors, Ron’s comment was, “This is what life is all about.” He was just so happy to be with friends having a good time.
He and Isobel also enjoyed playing cards. They would play bridge, pepper, euchre. Any type of card game was fine. It was always so important just to be with friends.
They often hosted an early season party at their cottage. All sorts of really important matters would be discussed like who was playing bridge this year, what nights could we play. Who was playing golf or tennis or anything.
At this party Ron would always cook some Indian delicacies, recipes learned from his years in India. A favourite was a fiery Mulligatawny soup. It always required the consumption of a little more beer to dampen the fire. Ron was quite a fine cook.
Ron knew his ‘40s and ‘50s music. One of the Usual Suspects once lost a bet with him on a song called “On the Street Where You Live”. The subsequent teasing and debt payment in front of all the other “suspects” had Ron laughing so hard.
This was the type of man Ron was. He loved his family passionately, he loved his friends dearly, and he loved being on Boshkung with the wonderful Isobel.
His friends, and especially his family, will miss him and his laughter.
A Celebration of life for Ron is planned for the spring.
William “Bill” Price Dies
June 8, 1925 – December 28, 2023
William ‘Bill’ Price Dies, married to Beth Joan Dies (née Byers) for 70 years, passed peacefully in the presence of family on December 28, 2023 at the age of 98.
Predeceased by his brother Doug (Rita) and parents William and Grace (née Price), he is survived by his wife Joan, children June (Bob), Paul (Nancy), Rob (Leah), and Joanne (Scott), as well as his grandchildren Todd, Devon, Sam, Rachel, Sarah, Evan, Hannah, and Emily, and his great-grandchildren.
Bill grew up in The Beaches and went on to graduate from the University of Guelph’s Agriculture program. He had fond memories from his university days and maintained contact with friends well into his 90s. He and his brother Doug raised their families side by side, with homes beside each other in Scarborough and cottages beside each other on Boshkung Lake in the Haliburton Highlands. After a few years as a chemical salesman and brewmaster, Bill gave the latter up as he did not want to contribute to substance use but rather wished to shape young minds. He taught at several schools in Scarborough as a chemistry teacher, serving as head of the science department and, in the later stages of his career, as a vice principal. Fondly known as ‘Uncle Bill’ by many of his students, he was deeply involved in student life and took pride in mentoring and tutoring those who needed it.
An involved and competitive athlete, he played a variety of sports including downhill skiing with the Skyloft Ski Club, and tennis with his brother and friends at the cottage well into his 80s. He was a veteran, a dedicated member of his church, served as President of the Boshkung Lake Property Owners’ Association (1985), and was a founding member of the PROBUS Club of Aurora (including a presidency from 2014-2015). As an avid traveler, Bill loved seeing the world and maintained that the most profound personal growth was found in exploring new and unfamiliar places. He was well known for his great sense of humor and keen interest in lifelong learning, making sure he was connected to everyone in person, by phone, mail, email, and even online. He loved nothing more than a good discussion about current affairs and could regularly be found researching new medical and scientific advances to debate with his grandchildren.
His fondest memories and bonds with his family were made at the cottage, where his parents’ and in-laws’ cottages have welcomed five generations so far. Many of his favored friends and family members gathered here over the course of his life, and thanks to his legacy, that meaningful connection will continue to blossom through his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. To his point, Bill spent the last two years of his life reveling in his new role as ‘Great-Papa’, spending hours admiring the growth and development of his great-grandchildren, and connecting with them regularly over video calls.
He left a lasting impression on everyone he met and will be greatly missed by all. Details regarding a memorial service for Bill will be added to this page at a later date as they become available.
Published: January 18th, 2024
Douglas Dies
DIES, DOUGLAS - Doug passed peacefully, on August 5, 2023, at the age of 95. When not travelling the world with his wife, Rita, or other family and friends, Doug spent much of his time at his cottage on Boshkung Lake. He instilled his love for the cottage across multiple generations of family.
A great athlete and competitive card player, Doug raised both of his boys to be avid boaters and snowmobilers, and inclined to tinker with all kinds of things. Easily approachable and cheerful, he could still bluntly tell it like it is. Doug enjoyed a successful career for 30 years as a student counsellor for the Scarborough Board of Education.
Doug will be sadly missed by many. Predeceased by his loving wife, Rita; and his son, Gary; Doug is survived by his oldest son, Stephen (Brenda); daughter-in-law, Joanne; grandchildren, Amanda, Austin, Stephanie, Justin and Julia; and 8 great-grandchildren. Doug is survived by his brother, Bill (Joan) and their children. A celebration of life will be held at a later date.
Published: August 26, 2023