Inez Smith

SUNDERLAND, Inez
January 16, 1918 - May 13, 2016
With sadness we announce the peaceful passing of Inez Sunderland (nee: Smith) in her 99th year on Friday, May 13, 2016. Beloved wife of Albert (Bud) Sunderland (deceased). Loving sister of Jerome Smith, Colin Smith (deceased), Blanche Sheffield (deceased), and aunt to Catherine, David, Bruce and Geoffrey Sheffield and Bruce Smith, Laurie Skinner and Ingrid Rusk.
Inez was born into an RCMP family in Nanton Alberta in 1918. She was educated at Lisgar Collegiate Institute, Dalhousie University and Syracuse University where she received her Master's degree specializing in the teaching of reading. Inez and Bud were married in Ottawa in September of 1942. In 1948, they moved to Manor Park where Inez chaired the Board that recognized the need for the Manor Park Public School. Inez began her career at Overbrook Public School where she taught Primary children from 1948 to 1950. At the end of the 1950 school year she choose to transfer to the new Manor Park Public School where she again taught Primary children from 1950 to 1956. Bud's relocation to the Trenton Air Force Base resulted in Inez continuing her love of teaching at the Trenton Base School from 1956 to 1960. Her teaching excellence was soon recognized by Principals and Superintendents whom encouraged and supported her assignment as Master at Ottawa Teachers' College. Her career spanned another twenty-three years at the College, as well as the Faculty of Education at the University of Ottawa. Inez was the recipient of many awards for her lifelong commitment to teaching and to her community. In 2004, the Manor Park Public School named and dedicated The Inez Sunderland Library in her honour. She was a charter member of the International Reading Association and President and Past President of the RWTO. Inez touched so many lives during her years. She will be especially missed by Sharon Bradford and Andy Lagasse, Joan Hendry, Derry and Phyllis Timleck, Jean and Bob Hage, and the hundreds of friends, students and colleagues she met along her life journey. The imprint Inez left on her students was constantly demonstrated throughout Ottawa and surrounding regions. She was readily recognized and rewarded with hugs and stories, and told numerous times of the impact she had on so many lives. Well into her aging years, she kept abreast of educational changes and in her words, "some were good and some were not so good." Inez's total dedication to education was exemplified in so many ways long after her retirement, such as tutoring children, as well as ESL adults, in her home during evenings and weekends. She also always enjoyed travelling to countless board meetings in support of Primary Education. Our thanks go out to the staff of St. Patrick's Home for their kindness and care during the past seven years, and in particular, those within Wexford House during the last two weeks prior to Inez's passing. The Inez Sunderland Fund for Literacy in Ottawa has been created in Inez's memory. For those wishing, donations to the fund should be forwarded to the Community Foundation of Ottawa, 75 Albert Street, Suite 301, Ottawa, ON K1P 5E7. At Inez's specific instruction, no visitation, funeral nor memorial service will take place. Inez will always be remembered with love and fondness.