Maureen SKINNER

Maureen 'Reen' Madonna Skinner passed away on February 5, 2025, at the age of 79. Born in 1946 to Mary 'Mayme' Regina and Gordon 'Jack' George Goldsmith in Newmarket, Ontario, she was one of five children: Penny, Judy, Jayme, and Peter. She spent her whole life in York Region, with her formative years in Newmarket, and the next 50 years living in Markham, Thornhill, and Richmond Hill. She was distantly related to the Burr family who settled Richmond Hill in the 19th century. Reen worked at the Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital in the 1970s on the switchboard, and in the 1980s went back to school to become a Registered Nurse. She briefly worked at a hospital in Saudi Arabia. Reen loved her work very much and went on to become a Diabetes Educator, intending to continue her work of helping people even after retirement. At the age of 71 she unfortunately suffered a debilitating stroke. Despite this handicap, she continued with a passion for life, learning to walk again, making a beautiful new home in retirement, close to her sister in Woodstock, Ontario. Here she continued to help and touch the lives of others. She had a zest for life and never gave up. She was a real character. Reen expected the best from others as well. And she loved to go shopping at Goodwill and Dollarama! She had a poem by Abraham Lincoln on her bedroom wall: 'All that I am, Or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother.' She was a devoted friend, sister, mother, and grandmother, leaving behind three children and two grandchildren: Ruth Ann, Andrew, and Paul, Jorgia and Devon. She was special. There was no one else like her. She will be greatly missed. Always loved and remembered. A 'Celebration of Life' event for Maureen Skinner will be held at Newmarket Old Town Hall on Saturday, May 31, at 2 p.m. A light meal will be served. Those interested in attending are asked to contact Andrew Skinner as soon as possible, or simply attend.