BORTHWICK, Margaret “Elaine”

December 19, 1942 to August 27, 2024

It is with the deepest sadness that we share with you the passing of the most wonderful mother we could have ever known, Elaine Borthwick. She passed peacefully in the morning with her family by her side and the sun shining in her window at Campbell House.

Elaine was born in Fort Erie to parents Art and Winnie Hutchison. Art was from Thornbury and moved to Fort Erie to work at Horten Steel Works, where he met Winnie who was originally from England but came to Canada during the First World War. Elaine's father dreamed of having a cottage court in Wasaga Beach. So the Hutchison family that included Elaine's older brother Doug and younger sister Jo-Ann relocated to River Road East in Wasaga Beach and over time built Dew-Laine Cottages.

Elaine attended grade school in Wasaga Beach and high school in Collingwood. CCI was where “cheerleader met quarterback” and the union of Walter and Elaine began and was then followed by a family of three daughters. Besides raising a family, Elaine was kept extremely busy helping with Walter’s family business and political career, as well as having her own career as a Dental Assistant. Elaine worked at the Stayner Medical Center for approximately 40 years and made some of her closest friendships during that time and held the hands of countless frightened patients.

To say that Elaine was a people person would be an understatement. Her ability to share her smile, spread her positive outlook and comfort people was infectious. Through all the stages in her life, the most important things to her were the people around her and the comfort that they brought her and that she could bring them. She would often refer to all her different families. There was her immediate family. Her grandchildren were of utmost importance and the source of unlimited bragging. From personal visits to endless hours on FaceTime, she was always supporting them and being their biggest cheerleader. Her extended family was also a source of great happiness to Elaine. Attending a family function with all her nieces, nephews and cousins was pure joy for her.

Another family Elaine always held dear to her heart was her church family. They were a very big part of her life and provided her with love and support throughout her whole life. Elaine attended Prince of Peace church from a very young age - in fact before the corner stone was laid by her parents in 1951. Over those many years, not only were her and Walter married there, she also gave of herself endlessly to many roles and responsibilities.

As mentioned, Elaine had a career at a dental office and this was also a family unit that she held close to her heart. The friendships that she made over the years, with both the staff and the patients, have proven to be lifelong and very valuable to her. The family that Elaine also held so dearly was her Wasaga Beach family. While being a member of this community her entire life, she developed bonds with so many different residents. From her current gal pals at Probus, to her honourary friends at Rotary and Kinettes, to her neighbours, Elaine always found comfort in and brought inspiration to the people she found along her journeys.

Elaine will be sadly missed by her three daughters and their families: Shelley and Brian Crozier (Shawn, Tahne, Abby), Heather and Rob Ballarin (Rebecca, Nicholas) and Sue and Steve Weir (Maggie, Emma). Also grieving this loss are her sister Jo-Ann Preston and sister-in-laws Marilynn Hutchison and Nancy Thatcher (Keith). Many other family members, from her cousins to nieces and nephews, and her numerous close friends will also feel this significant loss. No doubt mom is once again dealing with her brother Doug’s teasing. We are certain that she was also welcomed by some lively fiddle tunes by her brother-in-law Lloyd.

Even with the sadness that we feel, we are comforted by the thought that mom is now free of all discomforts and reunited with her high school sweetheart.

Friends will be received at the Carruthers & Davidson Funeral Home – Wasaga Beach Chapel on Sunday September 1, 2024 from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. The Funeral Service will be held at the Anglican Church of the Prince of Peace, 565 Mosley Street, Wasaga Beach on Monday September 2, 2024 at 11 o’clock. Interment Wasaga Beach Cemetery. If desired, a donation to the Anglican Church of the Prince of Peace or the Collingwood General & Marine Hospital Foundation would be appreciated by Elain’s family. To sign her Book of Memories, please visit www.carruthersdavidson.com