Jean Phalp
It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Jean Phalp, née Brubacher. She passed away peacefully in hospital on January 13, 2022. Until the end she continued to think of others, sharing a laugh and enjoying familiar stories.
Jean was the loving wife of husband Brian Trevor Phalp; beloved mother of Daniel (Leah Yu), Rosemary and David; grandmother to Chloe and Ethan; sister to Sheldon Brubacher (Barb); and predeceased by her parents Ralph and Bella Brubacher, her brothers Claude and Harold Brubacher (late Isabelle) and Gerald Brubacher (Lola), sisters Pauline Graham (James), Grace Waters (late Don), Alice McDonald (late Robert and Jack), Frances Clappison (Philip) and Beatrice Stephenson (Glen).
Jean was born on June 1, 1931 at her home in the community of Sunnyside, now Kitchener. She grew up with her brothers and sisters on the family market garden farm.
After graduating from Galt High School, she moved to Toronto where she attended the Ryerson Institute of Technology Early Childhood Education program, the first of its kind program in Canada, in its inaugural year, where she exceled, winning a scholarship in her second year.
She began her career as a teacher at the Victoria Day Nursery on Jarvis Street in Toronto. The first day care in Ontario (1890), was recognized for the promotion of mental health, and supporting children’s development. Her time there was fondly remembered, and co-workers became life-long friends.
She met her future husband Brian when he came to play badminton at Deer Park church, where she was involved in social activities. Brian, born in Yorkshire, had graduated from Cambridge, and had worked for several years in London, England as an engineer before immigrating to Toronto, Canada. They were married on June 23, 1962.
The couple moved to Don Mills and raised the family of three. Jean and Brian loved to travel, including annual trips to England to visit his family. Jean returned to teaching nursery school in Don Mills and continued to take great joy in working with children in their formative years. Together they were active members of the Bethesda United Church community where they made many friends.
Sadly, her husband passed away in 1997. Jean did volunteer work and remained active in the Jubilee United Church and in the lives of her family and friends. The birth of her first grandchild Chloe brought her great joy, which was enhanced when her grandson Ethan was born.
She took great pride in her family’s Pennsylvania Dutch heritage and many the links to the Waterloo Region. She had great love and concern for her brothers and sisters and their families. She was a woman who cared deeply for others throughout her life and the family thanks all those who supported and cared for Jean in her final years.
In lieu of flower, the family asks donations to be made to the Red Door Shelter.
Please join family and friends for a Celebration of Life service. Guests will be welcome to share memories during the service or afterward with sandwiches.
April 23, 2022, 11 a.m.
Jubilee United Church
40 Underhill Drive
Toronto, Ontario M3A 2J5
Mary Ann
Jean I will missed you…May you rest and peace..The memories that we shared will be treasured forever….
Anar
May Jean Rest In Peace. I will miss you. Deepest condolences to the family
Gavin Stephenson-Jackman
We are very saddened to hear of the passing of your mother. We’ve always had a special place for her in our hearts as a dear Aunt.
Grant and Anne Stephenson
We were so sorry to hear of Aunt Jean’s passing. When Anne was at school in Toronto, we enjoyed many visits with Jean and Brian and their family. We were always made very welcome in their home and we greatly enjoyed our time with them and their children. Later we didn’t often get to Toronto but were always delighted to catch up with Jean at family gatherings. She was interested in everyone and everything, a very kind a loving lady. We think of her fondly and remember a special aunt.
Rev. Norm Seli
A thoughtful, kind and gentle woman who is greatly missed by the whole community of Jubilee United Church. There is hardly a picture taken in the past 15 years at Jubilee that doesn’t have Jean in the background – she was never much for the limelight, but was always there making community possible with work and her welcoming presence. I treasure the many conversations that we shared over the years.
David Phalp
Thank Rev Seli
She had tremendous pride and love for the Jubilee community. There was nothing she liked more than meeting and welcoming new members. She loved to talk about the church with people she met in her later years.
Thanks to all at the church that supported her.
Barbara O'Brien
Rev. Norm Seli described Jean so well… especially: “Her welcoming presence”. She was a lovely lady.
Sending my sincere condolences to her family and her close friends from Bethesda/Jubilee. It won’t be the same without her.
James L. (Jim). Graham
Dear Rosemary,David and Daniel ,I wish to extend my deepest condolences on the loss of your mother Jean. Jeannie as Pauline and I fondly called her offered to live with us to help pay the rent as I was attending the Faculty of Education. She continued to share four of our dwellings until we moved to Victoria Village in June of 1960.Chris and Carey loved having Auntie Jeannie live with us as did Pauline and I.
I missed being able to visit with Jean after Pauline passed away in March 2020.
Pauline and I enjoyed many memorable times over many years with the Phalp Family.
With much Love, Uncle Jim.
Barbara and Shelly Brubacher
On behalf of Shelly and myself, I too wish to add some remembrances to the list of condolences. Shelly was always so proud of his family and enjoyed relating to others that he was the youngest of ten Brubachers.
Jean and Brian welcomed me as a late member to the Brubacher family and I have fond memories of wonderful family times together. We shared a common interest in cycling and the four of us met together several times to enjoy a day of cycling in locations such as Niagara on the Lake and Paris.
Our thoughts are with Daniel, Rosemary and David. May fond memories of your mother sustain and comfort you.
Ann and Paul McDonald
Dear Daniel, Rosemary and David, please accept our condolences on the passing of your mother. Such a kind, loving and gentle person. Of the Brubacher sisters I think she was most like her mother Bella (my grandmother) being alert, energetic and similar in stature. As my mother declined towards the end of her life she would perk up and smile when she heard Jean’s voice on the phone and listened to family news. You must miss her deeply. Ann and Paul McDonald