Obituary for Veronica "Nickie" Mary Meeson (Arnold)
Veronica Mary Meeson (nee Arnold)
May 22, 1934- Feb. 6, 2021
To understand the life of Nickie, you first have to understand the importance of cocktail hour. No matter how busy the weekend, everything stopped for cocktail hour, a time to bring out tasty treats, enjoy one another’s company—and maybe indulge in a glass of her favourite wine. But only after she first made sure everyone else’s plate was full and their glasses were topped up. It’s a tradition she passed on to her three children, Karen (Bruce), Shelley (Ken) and Andrew (Janet) and her four grandchildren, Ryley (Blair), Drew, Fiona and Julia and great-grandchild Teddy, who are all heartbroken at the loss of Nickie’s indomitable good cheer and ever-present words of encouragement. Nickie’s story began in interwar Birmingham, England and came to a peaceful close this month in southwestern Ontario, after a lengthy illness. Pre-deceased by her much-loved husband John, Nickie leaves behind sister-in-law Diane (late brother Keith) and brother-in-law Tony Meeson (Annette). She also leaves behind Evelyn Dannunzio (Ken), her best friend for more than 60 years. Married in 1954 in England, Nickie and John came to Canada three years later, looking forward to life in a promising new country. It was in their first residence, a Toronto rooming house on Dundonald Street, that Nickie first mastered Italian cooking from her neighbours, including a lasagna that became the highlight of the annual Christmas Eve party she and John put on for friends and family years later. In her career, Nickie took on various roles, from working in Connaught Laboratories in Toronto to town clerk in Strathroy to finally bankruptcy court clerk in London, all the while finding the time to be a loving mother. Like many moms in the 1970s, Nickie sewed her own clothes, made her own granola and yogurt—and dragged her husband to disco dance lessons. She later switched her musical allegiance to Bruce Springsteen, much to her family’s relief. It was also during these years that she and John fell in love with the Canadian wilderness, taking their children camping, including one memorable journey through Northern Ontario, marvelling at the Northern Lights and the cry of the loon. In their retirement, she and John maintained that love of the countryside with a trailer and boat on the shores of Lake Erie, where Nickie honed her culinary skills by cooking the fish that John caught, while treasuring the wildlife in the area, in particular the birds. Nickie had a great love for winged creatures, even becoming a bird-spotter for Cornell University. She amazed us with her ability to recognize the various birds visiting her back yard feeders simply by the songs they sang. The highlight of the summer for her grandchildren was Nanna and Poppa Camp, with trips to the Port Rowan chip truck, swimming, cribbage, fishing and, of course, cocktail hour. She also passed on her awesome knitting talents and an appreciation of gardening to her grandchildren. Even in recent years when she lost most of her sight and John fell ill, Nickie never gave in to despair. Despite her failing vision, she maintained her community’s lending library, and never left John’s side during his lengthy illness. Following his heartbreaking death, Nickie continued her adventures, whether eating at the chip truck in Sarnia, attending graduations in Toronto or taking tai chi in Tillsonburg. A celebration of Nickie’s life is planned for later in the year at Hickory Hills Community Centre, 48 Wilson Avenue in Tillsonburg. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to Birds Canada (https://www.birdscanada.org/), Sakura House (http://vonsakurahouse.com/ ) or the CNIB (https://www.cnib.ca/en?region=on ).
May 22, 1934- Feb. 6, 2021
To understand the life of Nickie, you first have to understand the importance of cocktail hour. No matter how busy the weekend, everything stopped for cocktail hour, a time to bring out tasty treats, enjoy one another’s company—and maybe indulge in a glass of her favourite wine. But only after she first made sure everyone else’s plate was full and their glasses were topped up. It’s a tradition she passed on to her three children, Karen (Bruce), Shelley (Ken) and Andrew (Janet) and her four grandchildren, Ryley (Blair), Drew, Fiona and Julia and great-grandchild Teddy, who are all heartbroken at the loss of Nickie’s indomitable good cheer and ever-present words of encouragement. Nickie’s story began in interwar Birmingham, England and came to a peaceful close this month in southwestern Ontario, after a lengthy illness. Pre-deceased by her much-loved husband John, Nickie leaves behind sister-in-law Diane (late brother Keith) and brother-in-law Tony Meeson (Annette). She also leaves behind Evelyn Dannunzio (Ken), her best friend for more than 60 years. Married in 1954 in England, Nickie and John came to Canada three years later, looking forward to life in a promising new country. It was in their first residence, a Toronto rooming house on Dundonald Street, that Nickie first mastered Italian cooking from her neighbours, including a lasagna that became the highlight of the annual Christmas Eve party she and John put on for friends and family years later. In her career, Nickie took on various roles, from working in Connaught Laboratories in Toronto to town clerk in Strathroy to finally bankruptcy court clerk in London, all the while finding the time to be a loving mother. Like many moms in the 1970s, Nickie sewed her own clothes, made her own granola and yogurt—and dragged her husband to disco dance lessons. She later switched her musical allegiance to Bruce Springsteen, much to her family’s relief. It was also during these years that she and John fell in love with the Canadian wilderness, taking their children camping, including one memorable journey through Northern Ontario, marvelling at the Northern Lights and the cry of the loon. In their retirement, she and John maintained that love of the countryside with a trailer and boat on the shores of Lake Erie, where Nickie honed her culinary skills by cooking the fish that John caught, while treasuring the wildlife in the area, in particular the birds. Nickie had a great love for winged creatures, even becoming a bird-spotter for Cornell University. She amazed us with her ability to recognize the various birds visiting her back yard feeders simply by the songs they sang. The highlight of the summer for her grandchildren was Nanna and Poppa Camp, with trips to the Port Rowan chip truck, swimming, cribbage, fishing and, of course, cocktail hour. She also passed on her awesome knitting talents and an appreciation of gardening to her grandchildren. Even in recent years when she lost most of her sight and John fell ill, Nickie never gave in to despair. Despite her failing vision, she maintained her community’s lending library, and never left John’s side during his lengthy illness. Following his heartbreaking death, Nickie continued her adventures, whether eating at the chip truck in Sarnia, attending graduations in Toronto or taking tai chi in Tillsonburg. A celebration of Nickie’s life is planned for later in the year at Hickory Hills Community Centre, 48 Wilson Avenue in Tillsonburg. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to Birds Canada (https://www.birdscanada.org/), Sakura House (http://vonsakurahouse.com/ ) or the CNIB (https://www.cnib.ca/en?region=on ).