Mrs Susan Carol Hutton Keyes

1947 - 2012

Sue passed away at St. Michael's Palliative Care Unit on Wednesday August 22, 2012 following a seven year struggle with brain cancer. Loving and much loved wife and best friend of Rob Keyes. Predeceased by her parents Captain H. G. L. Hutton and Dorathy Hutton formerly of Oakville, Ontario. Her passing is sadly shared by members of the Gillespie, Merriman, and Keyes families as well as a host of old and newer friends who supported her so emotionally during her challenging journey. Sue's ability to make and maintain strong friendships was one of her many gifts. All those around her and who met her were drawn to her attractiveness, kindness, and her gentle caring ways.

Sue graduated from Waterloo Lutheran in 1969. After graduation, she worked in the media departments of three advertising agencies, specifically Cockfield Brown, Leo Burnett, and MacLaren Advertising. In 1984, she joined Chinook Group in the sales department, completing both sales and office administration projects. Her absolutely most rewarding business accomplishment and personally satisfying project was successfully completed at Chinook. Sue was asked to research and commission several works of art from First Nations artists of the Pacific Northwest Coast. The final collection included totem poles, Double Eagle Button Blanket, sun mask, and other unique pieces created by probably some of the very best native artists in Canada.

In addition to her business career, Sue was also a very active volunteer in the community initially participating in the Junior League of Toronto and later with other enterprises such as Humewood House and the Palliative Care Unit of St. Michael's Hospital. In 2012, Sue was awarded her 25 year volunteer service pin from the hospital. Over those many years, Sue worked with medical staff and other dedicated volunteers not only to provide caring support to patients and their families, but also to bring some joy. At her initiation, Sue and other volunteers would dress up in costumes on special days such as Halloween, Christmas, and Easter and move around the unit and other care areas in the hospital to distribute Nestle chocolate products to pleasantly surprised patients and others.

In her personal life, Sue was passionate about and thoroughly enjoyed tennis and exercise classes at The Toronto Cricket, Skating, and Curling Club particularly because of the people she met there and the new friends she made. Just before her brain cancer first appeared in the Summer of 2005, Sue was learning to play golf at the Ladies Golf Club of Toronto.

Despite the dark cloud over her head, Sue continued to live life to the fullest with strength and grace but without complaint. She was a loving, kind, generous person with a delightful sense of humour who reached out with sincere interest in and affection for those she met. Her remarkable compassion and courage characterized her personality in each stage of her life. Her final months were enriched by the circle of family and friends who stayed by her side and cared for her so fondly and lovingly.

At this time, we send out special thanks for their excellent care to Dr. William Santo, our family doctor for almost 36 years, and to Dr. James Perry, the Sunnybrook Hospital neuro-oncologist who guided us so well through the past seven years. We also owe a debt of gratitude to the staff and volunteers of the Palliative Care Unit at St. Michael's Hospital.

A private family interment service will occur.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to the Crolla Chair in Brain Cancer Research at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Foundation, the Palliative Care Unit of St. Michaels Hospital Foundation, or the charity of your choice.

A celebration of Sue's life will be held at the Toronto Cricket, Skating, and Curling Club on Sunday, September 16 from 2 pm to 5 pm. The Club is located at 141 Wilson Avenue, Toronto just east of the intersection of Avenue Road and Wilson Avenue.