It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our brightest light and most beautiful soul. Ronna passed peacefully, surrounded by her loving family at ARCH during the Super Snow Moon on Tuesday, February 19 at the age of 66.
Ronna was many things to many people. She was the devout mother of Sean and Amanda Dawson; daughter of Doris and the late Bruce McDonlald; dear sister of Rod (Sandy) McDonald and Randy McDonald; special aunt of Jared, Lauren, Courtney, Sydney and Shelby McDonald; niece of Jack & Janet Hollingsworth, Jean Haines, Alice and (late) Ron Hollingsworth; cousin to Karen and Dennis, Diane, and Joanne; special (pseudo) daughter to Merle and (late) Edward Hawdon; soul sister and best friend of Christena (Matti) Laitinen, Patricia (Will) Fairfield, Brenda (Al) Warnock, Heather (Phil) Grandmont; and so many more.
Ronna’s spirit will be missed by many. She demonstrated immense strength and courage in her battle with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. During this time she remembered the name of every single nurse, doctor and therapist she encountered, never complained and somehow still managed to put everyone else before herself. Her humour and zest in some of the darkest of days kept everyone entertained and comforted. Ronna taught us that family extends far beyond the boundaries of blood. She embraced the people in both her professional and personal life as her own, and left a lasting impression of positivity, compassion and loyalty. To her core, she was connected to the outdoors and felt most at home under the white pines of the Lake Superior shores or the Rocky Mountains.
A special thank you to Dr. Anne Lee, Dr. Booth and Nurse Brandi, the Toronto General Hospital Lung Transplant Program team as well as the team at ARCH; who have created an incredibly comfortable, peaceful environment.
A celebration of her life will be held at a later date, to be announced in the coming weeks. Ronna has instructed everyone to wear his or her dancing shoes. Memorial donations can be made payable by cheque or online to ARCH or to the UHN Lung Transplant Program. (Arrangements entrusted to Arthur Funeral Home - Barton & Kieteley Chapel (492 Wellington St. E., 705-759-2522)