Eleonora Irene Ferraris Bertin. Born December 18, 1923 in Torino, Italy – died Toronto, Canada on June 6, 2011, aged 87. Eleonora lived her life as a warrior, fighting the onset and eventual deterioration of Alzheimer’s with the same courage and determination that she had exhibited in her resistance to the Nazi occupation of her home towns of Torino and Cigliano, Italy. In her 20’s, she smuggled messages and people over the Alps, was an ambulance attendant with the war time Red Cross, and met her future husband, who was then with the Rome Bureau of the London Daily Telegraph. Upon her marriage, she moved to England and eventually Canada where she worked as an ECG technician at the Toronto Sick Children’s Hospital. She volunteered with the Canadian Red Cross, Eglinton Pony Club, the Canadian Cancer Society, Sunnybrook Hospital, and the Toronto Humane Society. She was an active member of the Toronto North York Hunt Club, the National Yacht Club, and the Military Institute. Eleonora loved horses, dogs, and her family. She was a talented rug hooker, crafting rugs of exceptional beauty for members of her family and was never happier than when entertaining a number of people in her home. Eleonora was predeceased by her husband Leonard Bertin (1990) and her devoted dachshund Max, who accompanied her everywhere. She is survived by her son Oliver (Peggy Haist) of Toronto and her daughter Johanna (Bruce Pendrel) of Smithfield, New Brunswick. She was a proud grandmother to Adrian, Geoff (little), Lindsay, Geoff (big), and Catharine. She was aunt to much loved nieces Jan and Kate of England. Eleonora’s family thank the staff of Kensington Health Centre, Toronto who cared for mum with such kindness and gentleness, and restored to her the dignity which Alzheimer’s had robbed.
At her wish, there will be no funeral, but cremation and interment next to her husband at Friston Church, Sussex, England. Condolences to jbertin@xplornet.com