Ila Marlene Cunningham 

Our dear mom, Ila Marlene Cunningham, passed away peacefully on Sunday, Oct. 16, 2022 at the age of 84. 

 

She was a strong, independent, caring and determined woman her entire life, especially when faced with the challenges of declining health due to a degenerative neurological disease.

 

Ila was born on Jan. 4, 1938 to Edward and Norma Grigg in Goderich Township near Holmesville. She was the oldest of three children and will be sadly missed by her sister Dawn Staniforth and brother-in-law Peter, Almonte and her brother Bob Grigg and sister-in-law Donna, New Hamburg. 

 

Ila met the love of her life at Clinton High School and married Thomas John Cunningham on Sept. 2, 1961. They were married 37 years when Tom died in April 1999. Together, Ila and Tom raised five children on a farm in Hullett Township near Auburn: Linda Marlene, Debra Dawn, Roger Thomas, Julia Margaret and Leona Eileen. 

 

Ila was always on the go with farm, community and family. She put others before herself and happily shared her time and talents. As a mother, Ila supported her kids as they grew up and built their own lives. She mourned the loss of her son Roger when he died suddenly in March, 2014. 

 

She will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by Linda and Larry Plaetzer, Auburn; Debra and Rob Coates, London; Julia Cunningham, London, and Leona Cunningham, Southampton and her grandchildren Jasmine Coates (Tim), Jeff Plaetzer (Mckayla), James and Kayla Plaetzer, Alex Coates and Katherine Morrison, Janette Plaetzer (Darryl), and Spencer and Jaime Coates. Ila will also be lovingly remembered by her in-laws Christena Gross, Eunice Cunningham, Eileen and Lloyd McClinchey, as well as many nieces and nephews, friends and neighbours. 

 

Visitation was held at Falconer Funeral Homes, Clinton, on Oct. 19. The funeral service was held at Auburn Memorial Hall on Thursday, Oct. 20. Interment was at Hope Chapel Cemetery. 

 

Memorial donations to PSPCAN Progressive Supranuclear Palsy Society of Canada, Canadian Cancer Society, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, Hope Chapel Cemetery, and Clinton Public Hospital Foundation would be appreciated as expressions of sympathy.  

 

Messages of condolence for the Cunningham family are welcome at www.falconerfuneralhomes.com