Obituary of Catherine Guatto

On July 1, 2023 Jeanne Guatto, loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother passed away peacefully at Metropolitan Hospital, having filled her nearly 98 years on earth with the richness of family, friends, love and wonderful memories.

Jeanne was born in Windsor on August 22, 1925. Predeceased by her devoted husband Freddy (1999), Jeanne was the loving mother to Sherry (2019) and Suzanne (2012); left to mourn her passing are daughters Sandra (John) and Catherine (Rob) and her son Daniel (Joanne). Jeanne was a devoted grandmother to Jennifer, Christopher, Kaydi, Charly, Patricia, Harry, Melanie, Melinda and Matthew, and a great-grandmother to 13 great grandkids. She is survived by her many nieces and nephews on both sides of the border.

Jeanne lived a happy and long life, almost a century in the most remarkable and transformative of times. She was born in the Roaring Twenties, and lived through the hardships of the Great Depression and WWII. Over her lifetime, commercial air travel became common (she loved trips to Vegas with Freddy, Rocky and Delores) and man walked on the moon which she was able to watch thanks to the invention of television. She witnessed technology reshape the world and marveled at how it connected people in wondrous ways although she remained devoted to the wonders of personal connection and making people feel special.

Jeanne was known for her warmth, kindness and family devotion. Her beautiful blue eyes smiled before she did and her graciousness and genuine interest in others, their accomplishments and adventures, made her memorable and welcomed wherever she went. Jeanne cherished and was cherished by family and friends.

Spending time catching up with those she held so dear was her most favourite pastime. She never turned down an invitation, the most gracious of guests truly delighted to be invited to share in food, family and friendship. Her favourite television series was Blue Bloods, a show where family unity was key, a value Jeanne particularly held in high regard, as it reflected on her own family’s strength and her love of togetherness.

For many years, Jeanne worked at the Windsor Star, where her dedication and work were exemplary, and her relationship with colleagues, especially her dearest friend Marie Zanon, extended well beyond her retirement.

Curious and well-versed, Jeanne was an avid reader of mystery novels and a crossword player who completed crossword puzzles in ink, in record time. She had the sharpest of minds, a knack for numbers, and kept up on the news, politics and the changing world. Jeanne loved sharing memories of her happy childhood with no TV, just books, her school years, camping with Joe and Mary, playing cards with Willie and Helen, and building a family together with the love of her life, Freddy. “We didn’t have much when we started out but no one did. We had one another and the kids and that’s all we needed - we were happy.”

Living in her little house in Windsor made her happy, so too her independence. She cherished her special neighbours Bob and Patty, and Eleanor, and her caregivers from Home Instead, including Jan, Taylor, Rose and so many others.

To have known Jeanne was a privilege, to have loved her was a gift. Her legacy lives on in those she loved.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to a charity that is close to your heart.

A service and internment will be held on Saturday July 8th, 2023, at 2pm at Heavenly Rest Cemetery located at 5005 Howard Avenue, Windsor, followed by a luncheon; location details provided at the service.