Cheryl Louise (Eaton) MacDonnell
September 3rd 1941 to October 17th 2023
Cheryl MacDonnell was a remarkable, one-of-a-kind woman. Born September 3rd 1941 in Paris, Ontario, she was adopted as a wee baby by Sheldon and Janet Eaton. She became the love and light of their life, growing up in Ontario and Nova Scotia, spending lots of memorable and fun times with extended family. She developed many close relationships with her cousins that continued throughout her lifetime.
In 1958 she started taking Judo lessons (not a typical activity for young women those days) and met Ted MacDonnell, who was one of the instructors. They literally – and figuratively – flipped for each other. Despite the fact that he was Roman Catholic and she United Church, they fell in love, got engaged, and married in 1961. While it doesn’t seem like such a big deal now, inter-faith marriages were not looked upon kindly by society then. Their marriage led to estrangement with some relatives on both sides, a few which lasted for many years, but Cheryl and Ted were ready to defy anyone in order to be together. This determination, no matter what others thought, speaks to a core part of Cheryl’s character.
They built a full life which included two daughters, more cats than we can count, several dogs, gerbils, hamsters, and fish. Cheryl and Ted enjoyed a wonderful partnership together with a marriage lasting almost 50 years until the time of Ted’s death.
Cheryl’s courage and confidence in living her life in the way she felt it should be lived – despite what others or societal conventions may have dictated – was manifest in many ways. She was active in the 2nd Wave Feminist movement of the 1970s, rode a motorcycle to work while wearing one of her signature miniskirts and go-go boots, becoming a founding member of the Kingston Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility, and being part of the team who worked on establishing the first union at Queen’s University.
Her working life was varied ranging from admin assistant in the Sociology Department at Queen’s to real estate in Toronto to the first ED of Hospice Orillia. But she always said the job that meant the most to her was her time as the ED of the Open Door Shelter in Toronto. Her compassion and respect for the people that Open Door served remained with her through the rest of her life.
She was incredibly energetic and tirelessly volunteered from many different organizations beginning when she was 16 as a Candy Striper and continuing until health issues in the last few years curtailed those activities.
Formidable. Strong. Independent. These are all words that can be used to describe her. She touched many people’s lives and made them better. And above all else, she was protective and fiercely loyal to her family. The work she did benefited the lives of many – most who never actually met her – and she will be missed deeply by the many that did.
On Friday, October 13th, after a wonderful evening dancing and celebrating her eldest grandson’s wedding, she returned home. A fall down a staircase led to traumatic injuries from which she could not recover and she passed away peacefully on October 17th. We are grateful for the last memories we have of her from the wedding day, where she got to spend time with so many family members and friends, looking beautiful in a gold sequin dress adorned with a red rose corsage. We will hold those happy images close to our hearts as we mourn her loss.
Cheryl was predeceased by her parents, her brother Jack, her husband, her step-mother Josephine McElhiney, and youngest daughter, Janet Small (Kip Wohlert).
She is survived by her daughter Virginia Eichhorn (Paul), grandchildren Zachary Mandrapilias (Jessica), Dakota Small (Colin Moore), Devyn Barr (Ethan), Matthew Eichhorn (Savannah Hess) and Joseph Eichhorn, her step-brother John McElhiney, as well as cousins, beloved friends, and many others who continue to benefit from her compassion, advocacy, and belief in the importance of serving one’s community.
At her request there will be no funeral. In lieu of flowers the family requests that you donate to Royal Victoria Hospital (Barrie, ON), Open Door Shelter (Toronto, ON) or your local homeless advocacy/support organization.
We wish to express our immense gratitude for the incredibly compassionate care that Cheryl – and her family – received from the staff of RVH Emergency and Palliative Care departments as we dealt with the shock and grief under the tragic circumstances of her most untimely death.
Rest in Peace Mom/Yaya. You’ve earned it. Thank you for all you’ve done. We love you.
Messages of condolence may be forwarded to the family through adamsfuneralhome.ca.