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Daphne Williams
December 29, 1929 - June 22, 2016
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<div itemprop="description">Daphne Williams was born on December 29th, 1929 in Bonny Gate, St. Mary, Jamaica to Georgiana Buchanan (who later married Alfred Williams and Daphne Buchanan became Daphne Williams).<br><br>Daphne’s early years were spent with “Aunt Gina”, who taught her strict manners, behavior in the traditional Jamaican ways and instilled the strong faith which would be her bedrock throughout her life. In her teen years she went to live with Aunt Gina’s daughter, Mrs. Morgan and became a Nanny to Mrs. Morgan’s children. Daphne was living with them in Clarendon until she met the charming and handsome Maurice Harrison at the Denbeigh Fair in Clarendon in 1955. Daphne later became pregnant with her only child. Although Daphne and Maurice (a.k.a. Bibs) had a daughter, Ruth Maurie (a.k.a June/Junie), they were not destined to wed, but remained friends until his passing in 2001.<br><br>During her pregnancy, Daphne moved to Kingston to start a new life and performed domestic work until June was born. Since Daphne had to work in order to improve their future, Maurice’s parents, the late Constance and Edmund Harrison, offered for June to live with them when June was three months old.<br><br>Daphne eventually secured a position as a housekeeper for a German couple living in Jamaica, the Friedman’s. They were supportive of Daphne’s desire to improve herself, and after some years, Daphne entered the Canadian Domestic Worker program and migrated to Toronto, Canada in 1964. In Toronto, while working as a housekeeper, Daphne obtained her Nursing Assistant Certification and joined her brother, Roy, as a Nursing Assistant at Riverdale Hospital.<br><br>June joined Daphne in Toronto in 1968. Still determined to improve herself, Daphne completed her Registered Nursing Assistant Certification and went to work at the Hospital For Sick Children until her early retirement due to the effects for five different hip replacement surgeries as a result of severe osteoarthritis.<br><br>Daphne’s love of children continued and she also did babysitting for children of friends until her grandchildren, Stephanie & Rebecca, were born after June & Wayne Fenton were married. Her grandchildren then became the final career, and she even became a “snow bird” when her daughter moved to Florida in 1989, in order to be near to them. Over the years, Daphne also became close to the extended families of June’s siblings through her father, the late Maurice and was lovingly known to them as “Aunt Daph”. During the years after June’s birth, and all though her life, Daphne also kept in contact with the Morgan’s, and after their passing, with their adult children.<br><br>Sadly, with the onset of dementia starting around 2006, Daphne’s ability to travel or live alone declined and she entered her last earthly home, Fieldstone Commons (formerly Leisureworld Ellesmere) in 2008 and was part of that community until March 2016, when she was hospitalized with pneumonia. Always a fighter she bounced back enough that she was able to recognize June when she visited her in May after recovering from her own surgery for Osteoarthritis. Unfortunately, Daphne’s condition deteriorated rapidly in the second week of June and she passed away peacefully on June 22nd, 2016.<br><br><br><br>Daphne is predeceased by her parents and siblings: Rosaman, Noel, Indie, Beryl and Vincent. She is survived by her daughter June, son in law, Wayne Fenton, granddaughters Stephanie (Stephie) Fenton, Rebecca (Becky) Fenton, and Nadia (Nada) Fenton, brother & sister in law, Roy & Mae Moncrieffe, sister in law, Gwenny Williams and many nieces and nephews.<br><br>The family extends their thanks to the staff of Fieldstone Commons for their excellent care & attention to Daphne’s needs and in always keeping June informed over the last 8 years. Thanks are also extended to the staff (Social worker, CCAC, Doctors, Nurses & other caregivers) at the Scarborough Hospital for their excellent care over the last 3 months.<br><br><br>Finally, a special thank you to dear friends, Phyllis, Ann Marie, Joyce & Marlene, who provided the special attention, spiritual ministry and love over the years while Daphne was at Fieldstone Commons, and especially over the last three months, including the day before Daphne passed away. Thank you also to all the many friends and family members who visited Daphne over the years and kept in touch with June, either directly or indirectly. Many Blessings to All! <br><br>Daphne, Mom, Gramma, Aunt Daph, Sister and Friend, May you rest in peace!<br></div>