Obituary of J. Ardeth Hill

Ardeth was born in Hawarden, Saskatchewan on November 10, 1931, to Howard and Margaret Justus. The family had moved to Saskatchewan in 1929 for her father to begin his medical career. The family returned to Ontario in 1938 and eventually settled in Chesterville in 1941. After graduating from Winchester High School in 1949, Ardeth completed a BA at Queen’s University in 1953. 

In 1951, Ardeth’s friend Mary Hill set her up on a blind date with her older brother and fellow undergrad, J. Gilbert Hill. They attended a Sci’51 dance at Grant Hall. Ardeth and Gilbert married in Chesterville, Ontario on June 2, 1956. 

Ardeth began her career as a medical lab technician at Kingston General Hospital where her work related to the use of radioactive isotopes in medical imaging. After marrying Gilbert, she took her technical expertise to a team at Queen Mary’s Veterans Hospital in Montréal working on haematology and transfusion medicine. When she and Gilbert relocated to Toronto in 1965 with their growing family, Ardeth was a dedicated volunteer in the community and then later returned to school, completing an M.Ed. at the University of Toronto in 1987. Her love of teaching and counselling led to experience in addictions counselling, employee assistance programs and an after-school enrichment program for elementary school students. Her curiosity and passion for learning was an inspiration to everyone around her, especially her kids.

Ardeth was an enthusiastic naturalist and loved sports. From shinny hockey on the frozen South Nation River in Chesterville, to intercollegiate tennis at Queen’s, canoeing, sailing, skiing, hiking, and cycling, sports and outdoor activities were an important part of her life. She loved the sun and took every opportunity to fly a kite on a beach. Ardeth loved to build, make and grow things and was an accomplished gardener. She was also an adventurer. During their 69 years together, Ardeth and Gilbert travelled the world, eventually visiting all seven continents as they lived, loved and learned together.  

Throughout her life, Ardeth personified resilience and set an example of how to hear the music and keep your toes tapping.

Ardeth is pre-deceased by husband, Gilbert, sister Katharine Eastwood, and brother Duane Justus. She is survived by children Margaret Hill, Janet Hill (David Palmer), Andrew Hill, and many nieces and nephews.

A private funeral service is being held. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Fighting Blindness Canada, The Nature Conservancy of Canada or the SickKids Foundation.