Obituary

Passed away peacefully in her 98th year, surrounded by her family, on Thursday, November 28, 2019 at Groves Memorial Hospital in Fergus, Ontario. Phyllis was the last surviving member of her immediate family. Daughter of Samuel Edmund Smith and Agnes Jane Russell, she was born in the family home on the 5th Line of Erin Township on April 1, 1922, the youngest of her siblings, Lulu Smith, Russell (Katherine) Smith and Reta (Albert) James (all deceased). Predeceased by her first husband, William Kenneth Hall (November 8, 1975) and her third husband, Arthur Cameron (February 2007). Survived by her children, Gerald (Elizabeth) Hall, Harvey Hall of Guelph, Valerie (Paul Goudie) Hall of Ethelbert, MB and Murray (Ruthann) Hall of Guelph. Phyllis had nine grandchildren, Sheri (Ronald) Allan of Elora, Christine (Scott) Evans of Fergus, Trevor (Lisa) Hall of Oakville; Matthew (Sabrina Bazin) Goudie, Rebecca (David) Semeniuk, Jennifer (Danny Edgar) Goudie and Sarah (Warren) Jacobson Goudie, all of Ethelbert, MB; Braydon Hall and Emily Hall of Guelph; two step-grandchildren Cara (Nick) Swyszcz of Toronto and Justin Sweeny of Squamish, BC. She had nine great-grandchildren, Reilly and Alexandra Hall, Lily Evans, Lane and Kolt Goudie, Brooke, Wade, Bryce and Lily Grace Semeniuk; and four step-great-grandchildren Wyatt Bazin and Carter, Easton and Ryder Swyszcz. She lived in Coldwater for several years, and when she was 75, she looked at her father’s fiddle and she decided to learn how to play it. She took lessons for two years and then joined several fiddle groups in the Midland-Barrie area. She attended the Shelburne Heritage Music Festival and the Huron Thresher & Hobby Festival for several years to play in the fiddle contests, often winning the “oldest fiddler” award. When she returned to Guelph, she joined the Puslinch Fiddle Orchestra, which she enjoyed jamming and performing concerts with until her 90th birthday, which attracted 170 people to enjoy listening and dancing to “Old Time Fiddle Music” performed by herself and about twenty-five fiddle and accompanying musicians from Puslinch and Waterdown groups. The family wish heartfelt thanks to all the staff at Stone Lodge, Guelph, Nurses and Staff at Caressant Care, Fergus, Groves Memorial Hospital, Fergus, for the wonderful and compassionate care Mom received.  Also Dr. Chris Stemerdink, Guelph for her care before and during her time spent at Stone Lodge, and Dr. Nancy Rose-Janes, Fergus for her care at Caressant Care and Groves Hospital. Friends will be received at the Wall-Custance Funeral Home & Chapel, 206 Norfolk St., Guelph on Thursday, December 12, 2019 from 7:00 – 9:00pm and on Friday, December 13, 2019 from 10:00 – 11:00am. Funeral service will be held in the funeral home chapel at 11:00am. Reception to follow in the Wall-Custance Family Reception Centre. Interment Elora Cemetery. Memorial contributions to Duff’s Presbyterian Church, Groves Memorial Hospital or the charity of your choice would be appreciated.