Obituary for Jeanne Polito
Polito, Jeanne – Passed away peacefully on Monday, January 21, 2019 at Springdale Country Manor, Peterborough. Jeanne was the beloved wife of the late Philip Polito. Cherished Mother of Mary Polito, Anne Polito (the late Dan Chaput), and Maggie Fry (John). Loving Grandma of Annie (Brendan Crough), Liz Hitchins (the late Michael), Abbey Smelt (John), David Fry (Vanessa Taylor) and Rachel Fry (David Burns). Great-Grandma (“G.G.”) of Portia Hitchins, Cadence Hitchins; Nolan Smelt, Lylah Smelt, and Blake Smelt. Predeceased by her parents Robert and Eva Trotter, and her siblings Brenda Magahay, Joan Mooney, and Jim Trotter. Survived by her brother Robert Trotter. She will be missed by many nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.
Jeanne was born in Lindsay Ontario, where she grew up during the Great Depression in the Kent St. home of her loving parents, Bert and Eva Trotter. She always said she never knew they were that poor because everyone was poor and because her mother always found a way to feed and clothe them as well as to help poor transients who came to the door looking for a meal. She also recalled, of the Depression years, “Hobo” parties hosted by her family where her friends and those of her four siblings came dressed even more poorly than they did themselves everyday and feasted on toast and beans. Jeanne graduated from LCVI with a diploma in “Special Commercial” and she used her bookkeeping skills in several jobs throughout her life (including at the Polito family business: retail and wholesale food, in Lindsay from 1928 to 1975).
Jeanne met Philip Polito in the winter of 1946 At a CYO dance and it really was love a first site. Their song was “Let It Snow.” They were married six months later. While Jeanne and Phil were the quiet ones in their families (one of the many ways they were made for each other), they nevertheless regularly enjoyed entertaining their extended families. They hosted annual Christmas carol sings and later at their retirement home on Sturgeon Lake, parties with sing-alongs that rang out the old wartime standards between swimming and fishing and eating.
Besides her family and music, Jeanne loved books, baseball and politics (and also cats). A voracious and passionate reader, she guarded her reading time each afternoon with zeal. Always an available mother, her children nevertheless knew that when Mom was reading, it was time to make yourself scarce and quiet. Her passion was passed down to her children, who all entered careers in education and remain passionate readers themselves.
Long before the Blue Jays existed, Jeanne was a baseball fan. She would save up her ironing to do while she watched and aimed never to miss a game during what she called “The World Serious.” Later, she became a staunch Blue Jays fan and once she was knitting a sweater during a game. The game went into extra innings and by the time the game was over she had knit one sleeve six inches too long!
Some might have called Mom a political junkie. She kept up with national and international news and always read through the lens of her innate sense of social justice (and was frequently mad as heck at one politician or another). As her daughters recall her, they realize that she was always a feminist, long before she or they even knew that term. She followed the plight of women globally and locally, giving regularly to a local women’s shelter. While she wasn’t a career woman herself and was more than content with her life, she always encouraged her daughters to seek out adventures and satisfying work beyond or alongside marriage and family life.
Jeanne and Phil were warm and wonderful grandparents and Jeanne was thrilled and delighted by the gift of her great-grandchildren who remember her as GG.
After Phil’s death in 2006, Jeanne, in her early eighties, took it upon herself to sell their home and move to Peterborough to be closer to children and grandchildren. She enjoyed the adventure of apartment living and then, when her health deteriorated, a time living with Mary. For the last two years, Jeanne benefitted from superb care at Springdale Country Manor. Jeanne’s family sends their deepest thanks to the staff at Springdale, who all helped to make Jeanne’s time there so extraordinarily secure, warm and as comfortable and as enjoyable as possible.
Visitation will take place at the Mackey Funeral Home, 33 Peel Street, Lindsay on Friday, January 25th from 1:00 – 3:00p.m. and 6:00 - 8:00p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will take place at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church on Saturday, January 26th at 10:00a.m. Interment to follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery. If desired, a memorial donation to the City of Kawartha Lakes – Lindsay Public Library. Online donations and condolences can be made at www.mackeys.ca.
Jeanne was born in Lindsay Ontario, where she grew up during the Great Depression in the Kent St. home of her loving parents, Bert and Eva Trotter. She always said she never knew they were that poor because everyone was poor and because her mother always found a way to feed and clothe them as well as to help poor transients who came to the door looking for a meal. She also recalled, of the Depression years, “Hobo” parties hosted by her family where her friends and those of her four siblings came dressed even more poorly than they did themselves everyday and feasted on toast and beans. Jeanne graduated from LCVI with a diploma in “Special Commercial” and she used her bookkeeping skills in several jobs throughout her life (including at the Polito family business: retail and wholesale food, in Lindsay from 1928 to 1975).
Jeanne met Philip Polito in the winter of 1946 At a CYO dance and it really was love a first site. Their song was “Let It Snow.” They were married six months later. While Jeanne and Phil were the quiet ones in their families (one of the many ways they were made for each other), they nevertheless regularly enjoyed entertaining their extended families. They hosted annual Christmas carol sings and later at their retirement home on Sturgeon Lake, parties with sing-alongs that rang out the old wartime standards between swimming and fishing and eating.
Besides her family and music, Jeanne loved books, baseball and politics (and also cats). A voracious and passionate reader, she guarded her reading time each afternoon with zeal. Always an available mother, her children nevertheless knew that when Mom was reading, it was time to make yourself scarce and quiet. Her passion was passed down to her children, who all entered careers in education and remain passionate readers themselves.
Long before the Blue Jays existed, Jeanne was a baseball fan. She would save up her ironing to do while she watched and aimed never to miss a game during what she called “The World Serious.” Later, she became a staunch Blue Jays fan and once she was knitting a sweater during a game. The game went into extra innings and by the time the game was over she had knit one sleeve six inches too long!
Some might have called Mom a political junkie. She kept up with national and international news and always read through the lens of her innate sense of social justice (and was frequently mad as heck at one politician or another). As her daughters recall her, they realize that she was always a feminist, long before she or they even knew that term. She followed the plight of women globally and locally, giving regularly to a local women’s shelter. While she wasn’t a career woman herself and was more than content with her life, she always encouraged her daughters to seek out adventures and satisfying work beyond or alongside marriage and family life.
Jeanne and Phil were warm and wonderful grandparents and Jeanne was thrilled and delighted by the gift of her great-grandchildren who remember her as GG.
After Phil’s death in 2006, Jeanne, in her early eighties, took it upon herself to sell their home and move to Peterborough to be closer to children and grandchildren. She enjoyed the adventure of apartment living and then, when her health deteriorated, a time living with Mary. For the last two years, Jeanne benefitted from superb care at Springdale Country Manor. Jeanne’s family sends their deepest thanks to the staff at Springdale, who all helped to make Jeanne’s time there so extraordinarily secure, warm and as comfortable and as enjoyable as possible.
Visitation will take place at the Mackey Funeral Home, 33 Peel Street, Lindsay on Friday, January 25th from 1:00 – 3:00p.m. and 6:00 - 8:00p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will take place at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church on Saturday, January 26th at 10:00a.m. Interment to follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery. If desired, a memorial donation to the City of Kawartha Lakes – Lindsay Public Library. Online donations and condolences can be made at www.mackeys.ca.