In Memory of

Jean

Mary

Cardinal

(Wolfraim)

Obituary for Jean Mary Cardinal (Wolfraim)

Jean Mary Cardinal
(née Wolfraim)
April 17, 1925 – July 3, 2015

Jean Mary Cardinal passed away peacefully on July 3, 2015. With the wings of an angel, Jean brought sunshine and joy to all. She will be forever cherished by her son Geoffrey Cardinal and wife Mary (Marcille) Cardinal, her grandchildren Andrew, Virginia, and Lauren, and her daughter Susan Cardinal and husband Mark Simpson. Jean is lovingly remembered by her nieces and nephews, old family friends and Fergus friends. Born in Kitchener, Jean later moved to Toronto and attended Lawrence Park Collegiate Institute. She graduated from the University of Toronto and was a proud member of the Delta Gamma sorority. Jean was a true adventurer, always seeking new challenges, always radiating the simple joy of being. Her innate curiosity ensured her pursuit of knowledge and lifelong learning. As a teenager, she volunteered with other young women as a Farmerette, working on a farm to produce crops during the war years. She subsequently worked on a freighter on the Great Lakes, as a maid at St. Andrews by-the-Sea, as a teacher’s substitute and later, she even managed an ice cream booth. Jean shared her zest for life with Phil Cardinal, her husband of 61 years, until his passing in 2010. Together, they embarked on numerous life adventures from running a propane business to a heating and air conditioning business to selling skidoos, boats and marine equipment. At one point, they motored up the Mississippi River in a cabin cruiser from New Orleans to their then home in Barrie, Ontario. They went against the current all the way but didn’t mind; it was an adventure. Jean and Phil were also the proud founders and proprietors of the Breadalbane Inn in Fergus, Ontario. No doubt, Jean’s Home Economics degree from the U of T contributed to the success of the Inn. Their cookbook, The Fergus Country Innkeepers Cookbook, is a treasure trove of family recipes. Fergus soon become a home like no other and Jean developed deep connections to her community through her church, bridge group and the Fergus Horticultural Society. She and Phil supported many causes, including the Community Pantry, the Grand Theatre and church youth trips. Jean enjoyed volunteering at the Groves Hospital’s Opportunity Shop. While in her 70s, Jean was inspired to begin painting with water colours. She created beautiful hasty notes using dried flowers from her own garden. Jean was an avid gardener. Her expertise was evident in the design and colour of her beautiful gardens, first at the Inn and then at their riverside home fondly called the Cottage. At 86, still adventurous, Jean toured Ireland, home of her ancestors. Throughout her life, family was everything to her. Jean always put her loved ones first. As we embrace her memory, infectious laugh, unbridled love and deep inner beauty – we feel blessed to have had her in our lives. Special thanks to the caring and compassionate staff at Wellington Terrace Long Term Care Home. A memorial celebration is being planned for late summer. In lieu of flowers, please make any donations in Jean’s memory to Wellington Terrace Long Term Care Home (474 Wellington Rd. 18, Fergus, ON, N1M 0A1) or the Groves Hospital Foundation at http://www.grovesfoundation.com/ways-to-give. Online remembrances c/o Graham A, Giddy Funeral Home at: grahamgiddyfh.com