OAKLEY
Ivy (Robbins)
(March 4, 1930 - January 14, 2015)
With great sadness we announce the passing of Ivy Robbins, age 85, at Lakeshore General Hospital, Pointe Claire, QC, on January 14, 2015 after a courageous fight with pneumonia. At her bedside was caregiver and friend Dorothy La Berge. Predeceased by Neil M. Oakley her husband and inseparable best friend of 60 years; sisters Annie Belle and Helen May; brothers Fred and George. Ivy, born in Burlington, NL, youngest child of Bessie (Goudie) Robbins and Jimmy Robbins. After the fire of 1933 the family moved to Port Anson. She attended teacher's college in St. John's, taught at three schools in the 40s and 50s (Jackson's Cove, St. Anthony, and McPherson Academy). Her next stop was the boom town of Gander, where in the mid-50s she met and married Neil Oakley becoming indistinguishably linked. Neil worked for TCC and with Ivy as his travelling companion, they moved to Halifax, then Winnipeg, Ottawa, and settled in Montreal in 1972. The two enjoyed travelling, entertaining, building businesses and charitable works. Ivy took great pleasure in planting flowers in her garden and enjoying the view over a cup of tea. When Neil's health began to fail in 2009 Ivy was at his bedside until he passed in 2010. Soon after began her struggle with respiratory illness. She fought courageously to return to her home in Beaconsfield but passed away peacefully. Leaving to mourn with fond memories: nephew Jim Hillier (Dena), grandnephews Robert, Christopher, grandniece Sara; niece Ruth Burton of Robert's Arm, grandnephews Terry, Glen, Aubrey, Lorne, grandniece Dianne; niece June Hewlett (Esau), grandnieces Jill and Joelle; Rev Betty Robbins wife of late nephew Wesley Robbins, grandnephews Jimmy, George; Lucy Robbins sister-in-law and widow of brother George of Springdale; Bob Vallis (June) step-nephew, Bill Smith, husband and widower of step-niece Betty, grandnephew Rev Jeffrey Smith; a number of great grands and other relatives, friends and caregivers; Jane (Neil's cousin) and Fred Sweet, Vivianne Oakley (Neil's aunt). Ivy was cremated and the memorial service is to take place on Wednesday, January 28, 2015 at 11am at Chapelle de Rideau Funeral Homes, 4275 Sources Boulevard, Dollard des Ormeaux, QC. Internment to follow in the Rideau Memorial Gardens behind the chapel. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the United Church Cemetery in Port Anson for the upkeep and maintenance of the ancestral cemetery, something dear to Ivy's heart. Cheques can be made payable to: United Church Cemetery Upkeep Fund, c/o June Hewlett, chairperson, PO Box 23, Port Anson, ND Bay, NL, A0J 1N0.