Beryl Hutchinson (Rafuse)

Beryl Marie Hutchinson passed away peacefully on December 19th, 2020, with her daughter Cindy and granddaughter Davara by her side. She had moved from her last home in Waterloo to Cindy’s home in Ennismore, Ontario, on her 92nd birthday. She will be deeply missed by Sue (Roz, Jan), Lee and David (Michael and Anna, Pat), Cindy and Fred (Jessica, Javier, great grandson Felix, and Davara), Carla and Hiromoto (Shota and Maya). Born October 8th, 1928 to Inez (Tuckey) and Les Rafuse, she grew up in south London, playing baseball and basketball. She shared many summer adventures on her first family’s homestead on the south shore of Nova Scotia, along with older sister Norma and younger brother Jim. Beryl met the love of her life, Richard (Dick) Hutchinson at South Collegiate High School and married him on September 14th, 1951. They were best friends throughout their 64 years together until Dick’s passing in 2016. Their first year of marriage took them to Mozambique. A compilation of Beryl’s letters home are now a family treasure. “Beautiful Beryl” will be remembered as Dick’s steadfast partner in all respects, including his outstanding geological career that led to countless trips across the world. She served legendary meals to legions of friends, family and colleagues in their homes in London, Colorado, Nova Scotia and Hillsboro. Beryl was an extraordinary mother and devoted grandmother. She continuously put others ahead of herself. Beryl’s abilities and interests over her lifetime were wide-ranging. Mathematical aptitude led her to work as a high school teacher and an H&R Block income tax advisor. She loved to get lost in a book, and her love of literature was gifted to her grandchildren. Beryl was also notoriously lucky. She had an uncanny ability to thrash any opponent at cribbage, bridge or rummoli, and was competitive to the end. Beryl volunteered her personal time with seniors and The John Howard Society and gave generously to charity. She worked endlessly to promote her lifelong artist friend, Anna P. Baker in an effort to share Anna’s talent with the world. Beryl remarked that her life with Dick had given her everything she could possibly have wanted and often told friends, family and new acquaintances, “I’ve had such a wonderful life!” Family will honour Beryl’s wish that her ashes join Dick’s, at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of choice, or to the Richard W. Hutchinson Geoscience Collaborative Suite, at Western University; attention Kendra Lealess, Western University, Westminster Hall, Suite 110, 1151 Richmond St. London, ON N6A 3K7 (cheques payable to Western University) or by calling 519-661-4200 or online at www.westernconnect.ca/hutchinson

Beryl Hutchinson (Rafuse)

October 8, 1928 - December 19, 2020