Beryl Alison Hall

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Beryl Hall

Tragically on Friday, June 3 as a result of an automobile accident. Beryl Alison Hall of Brampton. Predeceased by her lifetime companion the Rev. Canon Fred Hall, parents Thomas and Beryl, brother Paul (Vicky) and sister Ruth. Loving mother of Mark (Kathy), Alison (Dennis) Esch, and Gillian (Brian) Westwood. Devoted grandmother of Jessica (Joe) Worley, Taylor and Sarah (Daniel) Esch; Eric (Donne), Simon and Andrew Westwood and beloved great-grandmother of Josephine, Jasper, and Jett Worley and River Westwood. Will be missed by many cousins, nieces and nephews in Ontario and Newfoundland. Beryl was born Jan. 13, 1935 in Toronto. She was proud to be the descendant of ancestors on both sides who arrived in the early years of Upper Canada’s existence. She had an intense interest in Ontario history and heritage.

She was born right in the middle of the Depression but her parents worked hard to make sure that she and her older siblings Ruth and Paul suffered no real deprivations. No sooner did the Depression end than the world around her was launched into the Second World War. Here at home in Ontario, her world was focused on the war effort. She often talked about how, when the war was over, she asked her mother what would they write about in the newspapers now?

It was during her childhood, attending school across the street at McMurrich Public, that she met Betty Brown. That friendship blossomed into a lifelong relationship that continued up to last week. They had planned to meet at the Old Mill for a supper event later this month!

Beryl was known for her determination, independence, devotion to family, and curiosity about the world.

As a young child, she contracted polio during one of the period epidemics that swept the city. To make a long story short, she was quite sick but survived. Her legs were weak, but with hours of massaging by her mother and determined exercise, Beryl was able to rebuild her leg strength and walk again. The family doctor used to call her his “miracle baby”.

After graduating from Oakwood Collegiate, she moved to Victoria College at the University of Toronto where she studied English. We learned from her years later that one of her professors was the renowned Canadian writer and critic Northrop Frye.

Beryl of course, was a lifelong Anglican. As a young person she, along with her family, attended St. Edmund the Martyr at Davenport and Dovercourt. There, as a teenage choir

member, she met a young theology student from Newfoundland who had joined at the urging of a friend. His name was Fred Hall. The rest was history, as they say.

After graduation, she and Fred married, and in 1956 they moved to Winnipeg where Fred had secured a curacy. It was here that son Mark arrived in 1957. After a couple of years, the opportunity arose to move back to Toronto and create a new Anglican parish in the midst of the booming post-war growth in Etobicoke.

They were a team. While Fred and volunteers canvassed the community in search of Anglicans and would-be Anglicans. On Sundays, while Fred conducted services in the crammed portable that served as a makeshift church, Beryl jumped in with her musical skills by wrestling hymn tunes our of an aging pump organ.

Those experiences at St. Richard of Chichester were formative years for everyone involved and people’s recollection of those times still seems to have a certain shimmer about them.

Here in Etobicoke, daughters Alison and Gillian arrived in 1959 and1961. By 1968, new career opportunities beckoned for Fred and the family moved to Aurora and Trinity Church.

As her children grew older and post-secondary education costs loomed, Beryl decided to find new ways to contribute to the family. In her mid-30s, she enrolled in Seneca College to qualify as a library technician. Studying side-by-side with mostly younger students didn’t faze her – it seemed to invigorate her. Soon, she found work at Aurora Public Library across the street from the church. That led to a successful career as a manager at Kleinburg and Woodbridge branches of Vaughan Public Libraries.

By 1980, Fred took up a new challenge, at Christ Church in Brampton. Here again, he and Beryl made a formidable team, working closely with many friends and colleagues over many years to maintain and expand a vibrant congregation in a historic parish. After Fred’s retirement, they moved over to attend St. James for many years. Following Fred’s passing in 2010, Beryl eventually began attending St. Joseph of Nazareth. She maintained close friends from all three Brampton parishes.

Just recently, as Covid restrictions began to come to a close, Beryl was looking forward to resuming her many activities. Her book club, visits with friends, meals out and more were starting to fill her calendar.

Nothing was more important to Beryl than her family, and she truly loved having her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren around, as well as extended family. In late

May 2022, she had a wonderful time hosting a bridal shower for Donne, fiancé of her grandson Eric.

Visitation will take place at Christ Church Brampton, 4 Elizabeth St. N. Brampton L6X 1S2 on Saturday, June 11 from 10:30 -- 11:30 a.m., with funeral service at 11:30 a.m. reception to follow in church hall. If desired, donations may be made to the Primates World Relief and Development Fund . Online condolences and livestream details at www.wardfuneralhomes.com. The family has provided the opportunity to view a Live Stream of the Funeral Service from the comfort of your own home for extended family and friends. The link will be available at service time.