(Annie) Vera Hann (Frost)
November 10, 1931 (Toronto)– May 12, 2021 (Stayner)
Faith makes all things possible. Love makes all things beautiful.
Vera passed away unexpectedly in her 90th year, only seven weeks after the death of her beloved husband of nearly 66 years, E. Jordy Hann.
Vera was the only child of Ernest and Nellie Frost (Blundon) of Bay de Verde, NF. Born and raised in Toronto, she attended Essex Elementary School, where she met Jean Chaulk (Dawe) (now deceased), also an only child, and they became lifelong friends, like sisters. Vera, always active and gregarious, roamed her Shaw Street neighborhood on roller skates, announcing she was the “Frost that pleases not the Frost that freezes!”. After graduating from Central Commerce High School, Vera put her bright mind and organizational skills to work as a bookkeeper. She was a beautiful, charismatic, confident woman, and she found her complementary soul mate in Jordy Hann, who was quiet, gentle, and kindhearted. They married in 1955, and they were as deeply in love at the end as they were at the beginning of their life together.
Vera’s philosophy was to always look on the bright side of life and she greeted each morning with a cheerful ‘Happy Day’ toast with her glass of orange juice. She cared deeply about her family and gladly did whatever was needed to make her loved ones happy and keep life on an even keel. As an only child, she ensured that her widowed mother Nellie Frost (known to her family as Nan) would always have a place to live with her and Jordy, and when Vera’s bachelor uncle Newman (Nan’s brother, known as Newm) moved to Toronto, she made room for him too. Both Nellie and Newm lived with Vera and Jordy until they died.
Vera was a tremendously supportive mother who provided every advantage possible for her children, Judy and Ernie, as they were growing up. Whether it was organized hockey, ballet classes, piano lessons or school travel trips, she ensured her kids were never deprived of an opportunity. And whenever a little extra money was needed, to buy a piano for instance, Vera would simply take a part-time job.
In another generation and under other circumstances, Vera would likely have attended university and pursued a professional career. She greatly valued education – she encouraged and supported her daughter Judy’s academic pursuits and proudly told everyone that her daughter was a “doctor – the real kind, with a PhD”.
The cottage at Wasaga Beach was a big part of family life. Each June, Vera picked up the kids on the last day of school with the car fully loaded, and they would not return to Toronto until Labour Day. Running barefoot, swimming in the waves, watching the sunsets over the bay, and enjoying late-night corn feasts have endured as cherished family memories ever since.
In 1994, Vera and Jordy began the long and vibrant retirement phase in their life together. They left their inner city neighbourhood in Toronto and moved permanently to the Georgian Bay area, which they loved. They built their dream home on a small acreage in Stayner and took up the country life. They raised chickens, planted fruit trees, and tended an extensive vegetable and flower garden. Friends and family became the beneficiaries of the bounty, be it pickled beets, gladiolas, tomatoes or eggs. They embraced their adopted small town community, were active in the Centennial United Church congregation, and made many new friends. It was an idyllic period.
Vera cherished visits by her children and their families to her home in Stayner. She always had a roster of activities planned to entertain, and even made chores, like collecting eggs or picking bugs off the potato plants, fun for the grandchildren. Although she indulged them with her time, Vera played games to win, even if winning resulted in a grandchild’s tears. As they grew older, her grandchildren learned to appreciate her cunning euchre skills and would jostle over who would get to be her playing partner.
Vera had a wonderful sense of humour, particularly when it came to laughing at herself – from splitting her pants in public while jumping on a trampoline to dropping a birthday cake on herself to burning the Sunday roast, she was able to make light of any incident and not let it ruin the fun. When something struck her as funny, her laughter could not be contained and the tears would flow. Her laugh was genuine and contagious.
Occasionally a small touch of mischief crept into Vera’s sense of humour. When she went fishing with Jordy, primarily to keep him company, she used to tell all the serious fishermen on the river that she used a special soap on her line to attract fish. Despite their skepticism, when she started catching fish, they would ask to borrow the soap!
Vera had an artistic streak, and throughout her life she turned her hand to many different arts and crafts. Her painting embellished Jordy’s woodworking projects; she sewed Halloween costumes and grad dresses; she built model schooners; she made quilts for her grandchildren’s cribs; she crocheted items for church bazaars. Everyone in the family was the lucky recipient of at least one of Vera’s Christmas sweaters, adorned with her “knit with love” label (although not necessarily made using a measuring tape).
Vera was a steadfast, supportive and devoted mother and Nana, and will be deeply missed by daughter Judy (Mendy Chernos) of Calgary and son Ernie Hann of Stayner. grandchildren Matthew Chernos (Mélanie Ebsworth), Michael Chernos, Hannah Chernos, Mitchell Hann (Julia), and Kassidy Hann, as well as by Julie Arucan, who considered Vera her honorary Nana.
The family wishes to thank the caregivers at the Stayner Care Centre for their support and compassion, especially during the loss of both Vera and Jordy this spring. Thankfully, Vera and Jordy were able to spend this last year together, as they had for most of their lives. Vera is now buried beside Jordy at the Stayner Union Cemetery, not far from Newm.
A celebration of life in honour of Vera and Jordy will be held at a future date when family and friends are able to gather safely. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Centennial United Church, FINCA (https://fincacanada.org/) or a charity of your choice.