Alexandria "Sandy" Anne Frood

The family of Alexandria (Sandy) Frood mourns the death of their mother and grandmother, on June 20, 2024, in her 89th year. Born on May 26, 1936, in Kirkland Lake, Ontario, to the late Thomas and Lola (née Ducharme) Frood, she was raised in Renfrew, Ontario, and later Kingston, Ontario.

Alexandria graduated from Kingston Collegiate and Vocational Institute in 1953. She worked as a lab technician at hospitals in Kingston, Ontario, and Campbellford, Ontario, and in 1978, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from Trent University in Peterborough, Ontario. She taught computer applications in Peterborough, Ontario; Edmonton, Alberta; Vancouver, British Columbia; and Victoria, British Columbia, before retiring in Victoria.

Alexandria’s fondest memories included the day of her father’s return from England following his four years of service in World War II, spending time at the farms of her uncles Bill and Earl Ducharme in Renfrew and later Hagersville, Ontario, and sailing on Lake Ontario. Homemade marmalade and hand-knitted socks were the currency of her appreciation for friends, family, and her letter carriers. She leaned left in her political views, advocating for the CBC and championing the causes of the New Democratic Party most of her life, particularly those she believed aligned with her feminist preferences. She made a comeback at the age of 62 after suffering two strokes and had to relearn to read, write, speak, and knit. Following her strokes, she also resumed her lifelong interests in geology, opera, and hiking. Treasuring her independence, she kept her own house for the next 25 years.

Alexandria was preceded in death by her former husband John Greaves (d. 2008), with whom she eloped in Smiths Falls in 1957. They raised their three children in Kingston, Ontario; Montreal, Quebec; Eganville, Ontario; Geraldton, Ontario; Campbellford, Ontario; and Hastings, Ontario.

Alexandria is survived by her three children, Marjorie Greaves of Campbell River, British Columbia, Malcolm Wynden (Joan Chwelos Wynden) of Courtenay, British Columbia, and Tom Greaves (Denise Greaves) of North Andover, Massachusetts; her five grandchildren, Emma Jacobs, Garrett Greaves, Sam Springer, Oliver Wynden, and Andy Wynden; her sister Wendy Auger of Uxbridge, Ontario; her brother, Tom Frood of Wilton, Ontario; her sister Jean Mary Oddy Bensley of Poole, Dorset, United Kingdom; her three nieces; and eight nephews.

Her family thanks the staff at Glacier View Lodge, Courtenay, British Columbia, for taking such good care of her these past few months. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Alexandria’s memory to the Canadian Diabetes Association. Please send donations by cheque to Diabetes Canada, 1300-522 University Ave., Toronto, ON M5G 2R5, 416.363.3373 or donate online at diabetes.ca/donate.