Ron was born in Toronto c. May 24, 1929, at the family home, 2231 St. Clair Avenue.
Source: Confirmation letter for Ron's birth registration
Ron’s maternal grandparents, John Joseph Sullivan / Honour Anne Corcoran, were Irish Catholic. Ron's father was Baptist and his paternal uncle, William Victor, was a committed Orangeman, so this must have made for interesting conversation around the dinner table.
As a family compromise, Ron and all his siblings were baptised Catholic and raised Protestant.
Mary's parents: Juraj "George" Oresky / Maria "Mary" Ohriskova
Mary was born in Toronto c. August 16, 1930 at St. Joseph's Hospital.
| Ron attended St. Clair Avenue Public School (est. 1898?). This school was delmolished in the 1970s by a land speculator. A housing development, built many years later, now occupies the site. |
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Mary attended St. Rita's Catholic School at the corner of Edwin Avenue and Royce Avenue and went to St. Cecilia's church with her family.
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Ron, age 6, in the delivery business with his goat cart, c. 1935This photo was taken in the alley beside the family home on St. Clair Avenue.Note the barber shop and Canada Packers loading dock in the background. |
Mary, age 5, at her Keele Street family home, c. 1935 |
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Mary, age 15, c. 1945 |
Ron's parents, Ernest and Ellen Cunneyworth, with their seven children
L-R: Edna, Ernest, Ronald, Robert, Ellen, Margaret, William, Edgar, Allan
Photo courtesy of Ronald Henry Victor Cunneyworth
During World War II, Ron received the following "airgraph" from his brother Bill, who
was serving overseas:
Letter to Ron from brother Bill c. 1943
Letter courtesy of Mary Angela Oresky Cunneyworth
My father recalled hard times as a teenager. His mother Ellen collected his pay cheque every
week from Canada Packers, as his contribution to the family finances.
(He managed to keep $5.00 for himself). Other children and many other relatives and friends also
worked at Canada Packers, across from the family residence on St. Clair Avenue. The histories of
Canada Packers, Ontario stockyards and the railways are cornerstone
components in the development of West Toronto Junction and its people,
including both my father's and my mother's families.
They weren't all hard times, of course. My father sometimes got to indulge his passion for horses.
Ron, age 15, on a black horse at the end of Blakley Avenue c. 1944
Photo courtesy of Mary Angela Oresky Cunneyworth
Note the sparcely populated Symes Road ravine and the hilltop intersection of Hillborn Road,
Spears and McCormack Streets shown in the background of the above photo.
Ron and Mary were married in Toronto c. October 1, 1948.
They first considered having the ceremony at St. Cecilia's Church, but could not affort the fee for using the church. When they asked to be married at the home of the priest instead, they were refused. The Reverand W. Conning, at the United Church, 52 Batavia Avenue, was considerably more supportive of the young couple, so they got married in his home.
Best Man: Norman Clark, Maid-of-Honour: Martha Baker.
Ron and Mary's wedding c. October 1, 1948
Photo courtesy of Mary Angela Oresky Cunneyworth
Ron and friends at the Venus Restaurant on St. Clair Avenue
Ron at his retirement from Canada Packers, age 61
Photo courtesy of Mary Angela Oresky Cunneyworth
Ron passed away in Brampton, Ontario c. February 3, 2007.
Source1: I was at his side when he died, along with my mother Mary, my brother Allan, and his wife Janet.
Source2: Ron's death certificate.
His obituary reads:
Ronald Henry Victor Cunneyworth
May 24, 1929 - February 3, 2007
Ron passed away peacefully at Peel Memorial Hospital Saturday, February 3, age 77.
Beloved husband of Mary Angela (Oresky), father of Wayne Edgar, Allan Ronald (Janet Howard) and Robert George (Connie Mitchell), "gramps" to Amanda Rae and Amber-Lea Cunneyworth, and to Samantha and Stephanie Schueler, Ron was pre-deceased by his six siblings: Edna May (Glyndwr Hunt), Edgar John (Doris Hackett), Robert Gordon (Lillian Long), William Percival (Jean Budreau), Margaret Ellen (Arthur Cross) and Allan Thomas (Margaritta Cowley). He is survived by a loving family, good friends and many shared memories.
Ron was a unique individual and, it’s fair to say, a recognizable product of his working class St. Clair Avenue neighbourhood, both now part of Toronto’s history. A butcher all his life, he was employed by Canada Packers from age 15 until his retirement. Old school tough and contrary on the outside, he had love in his heart for those who could see it. He was happiest watching horses at the track, reeling in a fish at the end of his line or re-reading a favourite Louis L’Amour cowboy novel. If he could live his life again, he would live out west.
Many thanks to Dr. Clive Wulwik, the staff at Orangeville and Peel Memorial hospitals, his home care givers and all those who offered so much support throughout his life.
A memorial service and celebration of life will be held Saturday, February 10, 2:00 PM, at Acton Baptist Church, 80 Mill St. E., Acton, Ontario L7J 1H6. Those who knew him will appreciate that he would prefer simplicity and smiles rather than a formal, somber service. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Acton Baptist Church, or to a charity of your choice.
"There will come a time when you believe everything is finished. That will be the beginning." - Louis L’Amour
It was his wish to have his ashes spread in the Monashee Mountains near Echo Lake, BC.
Children:
- Wayne Edgar Cunneyworth
- Allan Ronald Cunneyworth
- Robert George Cunneyworth