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Winnie spent her early life in England and Ireland, leaving home at 16 with her sister Pat to attend secretarial college and eventually immigrating to Toronto in 1962. She and Pat were involved with the Young Christian Workers in Canada, a lay solidarity movement that predated Vatican II and had a longstanding impact on Winnie. While working as a secretary for provincial of the Redemptorist Order , Winnie went back to school and eventually became a teacher with what became the Toronto Catholic District School Board. Her career in education included years as a classroom teacher as well as working with the gifted program, as a teacher/librarian, and retiring as a Vice Principal. Winnie was active in her home parish of All Saints, serving as Eucharistic minister and lector. After retirement she volunteered every week at St.Francis Table outreach in Toronto's Parkdale neighbourhood. Winnie's struggle with cancer was brief, being diagnosed just in May 2022. She was able to die at home, cared for and surrounded as she wished by those she loved. Winnie will be forever missed by her sisters Patricia Wilkins and Kitty McGilly here in Canada, her brothers Brendan and Ciaran Cradden in England, as well as her many nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, grand-nephews, and extended family and friends.
In lieu of flowers please make any donation to Futures For Children (babies of Bethlehem) care of Peter Tate , unit 503 ,11, William Carson Crescent, Toronto M2P 2G1