Zip Gleeson

Zilpha Mildren "Zip" Gleeson (nee Robinson) (12 December 1910 - 28 November 2002) was the wife of Lorne Gleeson and the mother of the Five Gleesons acrobatic troupe, including Fay Gleeson.

Obituary

December 02, 2002 After a long and happy life, Zip passed away peacefully in her sleep at Pioneer Ridge on November 28th, 2002. A very special day always in her life - American Thanksgiving - which she celebrated from a very early age as her parents Maude and Horace Robinson were born in the U.S.A. Zip was born on December 12th, 1910. She attended Fort William Collegiate then on to North Bay Normal Teachers College in 1928. She began teaching school at the age of 18 in the Hymer's School and continued teaching until she retired at the age of 65. She was very active in First Church United - Teaching Sunday School, C.G.I.T. and the Couples Club. She was a founding member of the Happy Handicaps Club and was very active with the club for almost 50 years. Her family and friends played a big part of Zip's life - she was always doing for everyone - including many strangers, who in turn became very cherished friends. She loved to travel but her most favourite place was Shebandowan. On July 9th, 1932 she married her childhood sweetheart, Lorne Gleeson, who predeceased her on March 25th, 1997. Zip will be lovingly remembered by sons: Rod and wife Marisa, Gary and wife Mila (Toronto), Dan and wife Ione; daughters: Fay and husband Rob Steadwell and Bryer and husband Sig Wanecki (Peace River), Jean (Jones) Arthurs; her grandchildren: Dan, Rob, Don and Kylis Gleeson, Ray Gillespie, Cindy Kennedy, Kelly Arnold, Lorne Gleeson, Carolyn Kellaway, Dana Mascarin, Lorna Lahde, Michael, Cameron and John Steadwell and Johanna Wanecki and 30 great grandchildren. Zip is survived by brother-in-law Ray Gleeson. Besides her husband, Lorne, she was predeceased by her parents Maude and Horace Robinson, sister Frances McCubbin and brother Dean Robinson, also grandsons Lee Wanecki and Derek Steadwell. A birthday celebration for Zip Gleeson will be held at the First Church United on Thursday, December 12th, 2002 at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Covenant House, 70 Gerard St. East, Toronto, Ontario M5B 1G6, the First Church United Memorial Fund, or the Alzheimer Society or a charity of your choice.

Sources

http://www.genealogybuff.com/canada/canada-ontario-obits25.htm