Evelyn Donna Gardner (née Allison)
March 29, 1956 - February 28, 2025
Funeral Details: Private family arrangements
Our beloved Evelyn passed away in the early hours of February 28, 2025 in the Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre in Barrie. She was predeceased by her husband Stuart, her parents, Jim Allison and Clara (McPhee) Allison, and her brother-in-law, John Stenabaugh.
Evelyn will be greatly missed by her sisters, Lynn Stenabaugh, Margaret MacDonald (Bill), and Janice Allison. She was a loving aunt to Allison Idestrup (Chris), Darryl Stenabaugh (Kerry), and Heather, Stacy and Bryan MacDonald, and a most generous great-aunt to Emilie, Connor and Lewis.
Evelyn was born in North Bay and moved with her family a year later to Scarborough and then later on to Hamilton. She enjoyed her young years there attending Sir Allan MacNabb High School and going on to McMaster University where she graduated with a degree in business. She then proceeded to take accounting courses and became a CPA.
Evelyn subsequently moved to Toronto where she joined Cimco Refrigeration. She spent most of her career as a dedicated employee in Accounting and Human Resources. Cimco was acquired by Toromont Industries and her position was moved to their facility in Concord.
During this time Evelyn and Stu were married and moved to Barrie where they bought their first house. Evelyn continued to commute from Barrie to work in Concord until she retired.
One of her favorite things was to spend time at the cottage with the family. She was an avid fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Blue Jays and loved to banter about the potential for them to win each year.
Evelyn was a caring person and always shared tips on health and safety along with gifts that would assist in an emergency. Her kind and caring personality was evident in her love of cats. Over the years she took in many rescued cats and provided them with a warm and loving home.
Evelyn will always be remembered for her contagious laugh, her willingness to help all and her amazing courage.
Many thanks to the staff at RVH for their caring support of Evelyn over the last few months of her life.
Thanks also to the staff at Peaceful Transitions for their assistance and guidance during this difficult time.
In lieu of flowers contributions to Arthritis Society Canada, Liver Canada or your local SPCA would be greatly appreciated.
Condolences may be forwarded to the family through www.peacefultransition.ca.
Peaceful Transition Simcoe
Guy Russell
Posted on: Thursday, March 13, 2025Our condolences to the family on the passing of Evelyn.
Evelyn worked for me for years at CIMCO before moving over to Toromont. She was a great lady, a huge Blue Jays fan and an active organizer of CIMCO employee & family events. CIMCO nights at the ballpark was just one of the great events she facilitated. Again, just a great lady!
We are very sorry for your loss. Such a positive person.
Best regards,
Guy Russell & family
KNOWLTON HUNTER
Posted on: Saturday, March 15, 2025Such sad news. My condolences to Lynn, Margaret and Janice on the loss of your sister. Though we are separated by miles [and years} I have fond memories from Herchimer avenue, grandma and grandpa’s place and later at Bradgate rd and of course summers at the cottage. Evelyn reminded me so much of Aunt Clara, with her bubbly personality and infectious smile. Jennifer and I send our love.
Danielle Alexander
Posted on: Saturday, March 15, 2025My deepest most heartfelt condolences for family and friends of Evelyn. I met Evelyn at Toromont. We grew a very special friendship and shared a love of cats. Evelyn was one of the most loving, genuine and caring people with such a great sense of humour. She was always an open sounding board and always made me laugh when I needed it. I considered her an angel on earth and now she is on a new mission. Her loyalty and love will always be with us.
Robert Nagle
Posted on: Saturday, March 15, 2025My deepest sympathies to her family. My wife and I were at EV and STU’s wedding. I have known them for years as I worked with Stu for many years. She was a lovely lady. She will be missed. Again my condolences.
Selwyn Inniss
Posted on: Sunday, March 16, 2025My sincerest condolences to her family. After many years I met up with her again at the school reunion and this summer we were to get together for some barbecues. All the best.
Sandi Hymers
Posted on: Sunday, March 16, 2025My condolences, Janice, for the passing of your sister. She sounded like a wonderful, warm lady. I see a common thread between the two of you: your support of the Jays and your love of cats. May she rest in peace.
Peter & Helen Nawalaniec
Posted on: Sunday, March 16, 2025Our condolences to Evelyn’s family. We’ve known Evelyn and Stu for a long time. We were supposed to have another visit and feel so badly that we never got around to it. Evelyn was a wonderful person and she will be missed.
Colleen Lang
Posted on: Sunday, March 16, 2025All my heartfelt condolences to Janice, Margaret, Lynn and all of your family. You have shared so many experiences with Evelyn and will miss her dearly. I hope you find some joy in those shared memories.
Wayne Hill
Posted on: Wednesday, March 19, 2025I am so very saddened to hear of Evelyn’s passing.
Evelyn and I worked together at Toromont for many years.
She was a key member of a small Toromont Corporate group from the mid-1980’s through Toromont’s transformative Caterpillar dealership acquisition in 1993. Thereafter, Evelyn performed key roles on Toromont’s Human Resources team for many years through to her retirement.
Always a cheerful and dedicated team member, Evelyn was eager and committed to successfully take on whatever challenges were sent her way. She was a great colleague!
Please accept my sincerest condolences.
Wayne Hill
Scott Medhurst
Posted on: Wednesday, March 19, 2025So very sorry to learn of Evelyn’s passing. She was a wonderful person who I had the pleasure of working with for many years. Evelyn was a key contributor to Toromont’s success while also bringing great sensitivity to employee needs.
My deepest sympathies to Evelyn’s entire family. I hope the fond memories are helpful in the coming weeks.
Scott Medhurst
Earla Dunbar
Posted on: Thursday, March 20, 2025The passing of my dear friend, Evie, is extremely sad. I would tell people that Evie was the kindest and most generous person I have ever known. We first met at Cimco 40 years ago and have been dear friends ever since. She was a giving soul and her love of cats matched my own, also our love of the Blue Jays.
Evie spoke often of her family and how much they meant to her and how grateful she was for their help when she needed it. A women full of love and support.
There was only one person I knew that I could be completely honest with and trust – and it was my dear friend since I knew she would not be judgmental to any of it.
I think Evie would agree with me that the angels on earth are the beautiful cats, but there is another – Evelyn.
I am deeply sorry for the loss of Ev to the family. How wonderful it was to have such an amazing family member in your life. Take time to heal.
Maria Vomiero
Posted on: Thursday, March 20, 2025Evelyn was the first person to welcome me at Toromont, and took me to lunch on Day 1. She was always warm, supportive, very practical, and had a great sense of humour. She had deep skills, and was always truthful about what “made sense”. She was also smart enough not to take anything “too seriously” and had a great ability to keep things in perspective. She was valued, appreciated and loved by the Finance and Human Resource teams and we are all saddened by her passing. Evelyn, you left your mark and you are missed! God Bless.
Robert Mitchell
Posted on: Thursday, March 20, 2025I had the pleasure to work with Evy for almost 10 years in Finance at Toromont. She was the epitome of a dedicated and loyal employee and one of the best motivators of staff that I have ever worked with. I was so sorry to hear of her passing and extend my deepest sympathies to all her family and close friends. She had a very positive impact on everyone she worked with. Toromont was so lucky to have such a fine manager as Evelyn, contributing her very best every day of her long career. She will be missed.