Jean Winifred (Barron) Abbott (1925 - 2015)

Born 3 May 1925 in Toronto, Canada

Ancestors

Wife of Harold Spencer Abbott — married 29 Oct 1949 in St. Mary Magdalene church, Schomberg, Ontario, Canada

Descendants

Died 4 Jan 2015 at age 89 in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Paul Gierszewski [send private message]

Biography

Jean Winifred Barron was born on May 3, 1925 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. She arrived breech, with a broken arm which was then set with a tongue depressor because of her size.

In the 1931 Canada census, Jean Barron (age 6) was living in Toronto with parents William Barron (43) and Winnifred Barron (36), and brother Lloyd (11).^[1]

Jean did very well in school. But she grew up during the Depression, during which her dad was out of work for periods. Once finished high school, she went out to work to help support the family. She worked as a secretary.

At the start of World War II, Jean joined the Red Cross Corp, working in a variety of roles in Canada. After the War had ended, Jean accepted a two-year position from 1946 to 1948 working at the Ontario House in London, England.

Back in Toronto, Jean resumed secretarial work with the Ontario Department of Lands and Forests at Queen’s Park, Toronto, Canada. There she met Harold Abbott. After a short engagement, Jean and Harold were married on 29 October 1949 by Harold's father, Reverend Frank Abbott.

Jean and Harold purchased their first and only home in East York (Toronto) in 1953. Their daughter Susan was born in 1957.

After her daughter was in university, Jean enrolled in a community college program and graduated as a Food Service Supervisor. Jean’s food service training enabled her and Harold to start a small business after Dad retired, catering for a seniors’ club. During this time Jean also started taking calligraphy courses, and developed such expertise that she herself taught calligraphy night classes for a couple of years. Jean was also very talented at sewing, and made many items for her family and friends.

Jean passed away in her retirement home in Mississauga, Ontario on 4 Jan 2015. She was buried with her husband at Prospect Cemetery, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Sources

1. ↑ "1931 Census of Canada", Library and Archives Canada; Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Seventh Census of Canada, 1931; Folder Number: T-27300; Census Place: Toronto-High Park, Ontario, Canada; Page Number: s, Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry ca Record 62640 #2671847 (accessed 13 August 2023), Jean Barron (6), single daughter, in household of William Barron (43) in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

• First hand information recorded by son-in-law Paul Gierszewski in 2015.