Obituary of Gwenna DuCharme

It’s with great sadness that we announce that Gwenna DuCharme (née Griffith), of Waterloo, passed away on May 17, 2025, at the age of 96 in her condo with her beloved cat Nora Roberts and family by her side.

Gwenna was born on December 25, 1928, to Ewart and Dorothy Griffith in Stratford, Ontario, the youngest of three daughters.

In her teens, Gwenna attended Ontario Ladies College before moving to Waterloo to work as a secretary. It was in Waterloo that Gwenna raised her family and discovered her love of travel. Over the next number of decades, Gwenna ventured across various parts of Europe, where she made lasting friendships with fellow travellers that would extend late into life.

Gwenna loved sports, always to be found watching a Blue Jays, Maple Leafs, or Raptors game. She could be glued to the T.V. for hours, her latest knitting project in hand. One of Gwenna’s favourite things was knitting blankets for her family members, and she would get excited at the different colour combinations they would ask for. She was also very passionate about supporting charities that were meaningful to her and her family. In the summertime, there was nothing more that Gwenna liked to do but tend to her garden or sit outside on her back deck and enjoy the sunshine under a wide-brimmed hat. She loved having lunches with her AquaFit friends, and chats with her wonderful condo neighbours.

Gwenna was a loving mother to Michele, Mare (Mike), and Jamie (Agnieszka), and cherished Nana to Emilie, Iain (Erin), Zoë (Jacob), Aimee, Teagan (Will), Camryn (Tyler), and Kayne. She was predeceased by her parents and her two older sisters, Marion and Shirley.

She will be remembered for her wicked sense of humour, her great smile, and her listening ear. And of course, her ability to call everyone she spoke to a ‘darling’. Gwenna was the matriarch of our family, and she will be greatly missed by any and all who knew her.

Cremation has taken place. Visitation will be held at the Erb & Good Family Funeral Home, 171 King St. S., Waterloo, on Friday, May 23, 2025, from 2:00 p.m. until 2:45 p.m. The funeral service will take place in the chapel of the funeral home at 3:00 p.m., followed by a reception in the Fireside Reception Room. A private family interment will be held at Memory Gardens Cemetery at a later date.

Flowers wilt, but a kind gesture can make a difference to someone in need. In lieu of flowers, Gwenna’s family would be grateful if donations could be made in her memory to the CNIB or the Canadian Cancer Society. These may be arranged through the funeral home at 519-745-8445 or via www.erbgood.com.