Ottily Agnes Jessie (Dambrowitz) Andrews

In Loving Memory of

Ottily Agnes Jessie Andrews (nee Dambrowitz)

May 18, 1938 - October 5, 2025

It is with broken hearts but also with deep gratitude for her life that we announce the death of our matriarch Ottily. She died peacefully at home in Arnprior surrounded by love on Sunday morning in her 88th year. She is survived by her children Brenda (Jim), Randy (Cynthia), Janice (Andy), her grandchildren Amanda, TJ, Kelly, Sean, Jacob (Meaghan), Matt (Merryn), Stuart (Sami), Jessie and Lexie and her great grandchildren Myles, Parker, Shaiden, Reese, Nora, Luke, Bella, Duncan, Florence and Delyn. She is predeceased by her husband Jim, son Michael and her daughter Linda. Also acknowledged as family are Renee and her boys and Haely who loved her as their adopted Gramma.

Ottily was blessed with growing up in a big family on a farm at Matheson in rural Northern Ontario. Her sister Georgina describes her as having the strength of Goliath and the heart of David. To her, she was the little United Nations with an even keel approach to family dynamics. She was the eldest of 10 children. From her parents she learned the value and necessity of honest hard work and the importance of family.

Mom was always sporty and loved the outdoors. She was most content paddling her kayak around Munro Lake or sitting on the dock drinking her morning coffee. She was game for all of the camping and road trips we took as a family. Organizing that for a family of 7 was no small undertaking. Her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren are grounded in their experiences with her at the lake and her open arms philosophy.

In addition to being a fabulous Mom and grandmother, she was as a teacher in a one room schoolhouse, a clerk at a bank, an assistant at a dental office, an Avon sales representative, a long time manager of a Sears store, a volunteer at the Adult Learning Centre, the UCW and on the Board of her church. She loved her community of Iroquois Falls where she participated in the Community Choir, played Duplicate Bridge and was an active member of the United Church. She was often at the helm on her own in our busy household as my dad completed his undergraduate degree, built a downhill ski club, and was meeting the demands of his career and his renovation business. In retirement Mom and Dad enjoyed working together creating toll painted keepsakes that they sold at craft fairs. They also helped their kids with their projects and enabled us to travel and work, taking care of the grandchildren.

She was so grateful for her life and all of the things she was able to do beyond what she had imagined for herself like owning a cottage, travelling by plane and by sea to warm destinations, to ski in the mountains of Western Canada and to find and develop a wintering community in Costa Rica. She and my Dad embraced life and loved the people that they met along the way.

Mom left Iroquois Falls to move to Arnprior with many wonderful celebrations in her honour. Her illness prevented her from enjoying the intended next chapter at Sawmill Flats. She spent her remaining months on the farm near Arnprior enjoying sun-warmed raspberries, freshly picked plums, pears and apples. Moreover, she loved being with family, with her many visitors from far and wide and the antics and embraces of her great grandchildren. She lived and died with such incredible grace and gratitude. She is and remains our greatest inspiration.

Visitation will be held at Irvine & Irvine Funeral Home, 641 deTroyes Avenue, Iroquois Falls on Thursday October 9th, 2025 between 6 to 8 pm. The Funeral Service will be held at St. Andrews United Church, 452 5th, Avenue, Matheson, Ontario on Friday October 10th, 2025 at 1 pm and the interment will follow at the Hillcrest Cemetery. A reception following the committal service will take place at the curling club in Matheson. Those not able to navigate to the cemetery are invited to go directly to the Curling Club from the service.

In lieu of flowers the family would like you to consider making a memorial donation to The Ottawa Hospital Foundation (Cancer Centre) or the Arnprior Regional Health Foundation (Doctor Recruitment).

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to

Irvine & Irvine Funeral Home

705-232-4006

www.irvineandirvinefuneralhome.com

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