Obituary of Mercedes Juanita West

Obituary Mercedes Juanita “Teadie” (Stewart) West of St. Thomas, Ontario passed away peacefully at home on Monday, November 12, 2018 at the age of 90. Born in Lower Neguac, New Brunswick on February 18, 1928. Beloved wife for 59 years of William James “Bill” West (December 28, 2012) and dearly loved mother of Cheryl, Bradley and Venna. Sister in law of Shirley Adams and Lenore Flintoft. Predeceased by her parents Anna (Gautreau) and Millet Salter Stewart and by her brothers Everett and Burton Stewart. She and Bill met in the Maritimes when he was in the Royal Canadian Navy and in 1953, they married and settled in St. Thomas. She worked for Mer-Lin Motors and spent many summers working in tobacco. Teadie was very active in the Locke’s Community as a Brownie leader (Brown Owl to many) and later District Commissioner for the Girl Guides of Canada. She enjoyed socializing with friends and family, feeding the hummingbirds, taking care of her flowerbeds and attending live musical entertainment. She loved working with her hands and was always sewing, knitting, crocheting, weaving or quilting and sharing her creations with family and friends. She was a member of Grace United Church. Teadie and her family shared their home with more than 100 foster children over the course of 23 years. The family spent many vacations RVing across Canada, USA and Mexico. After Bill’s retirement from the city police force in 1989, they travelled from their home base in St. Thomas, Ontario to their summer cottage in White’s Cove, New Brunswick and their winter home in Brownsville, Texas - attending many NASCAR races along the way. Together, they enjoyed bowling, dancing, going to jam sessions, playing cards, fishing and the beach. The West family collected for and contributed to a missionary outreach program that provided food, shelter, schooling and clothing to the very poor living in Matamoros, Mexico. For many years, Teadie coordinated a Christmas shoebox program for the children and she also made handcrafted quilts and handknit sweaters for the families living there. Shawn Jackson Funeral Home 31 Elgin Street, St. Thomas (519-631-0570) is entrusted with the arrangements. Flowers gratefully declined. A private interment will be held at Union United Church Cemetery at a later date. The family would like to express their grateful appreciation to friends and relatives for their caring support in so many ways. To send flowers to Mercedes' family, please visit our floral section.