Obituary of Nonie Finkbeiner

FINKBEINER, Florence Wenonah Yvonne (nee Einarson) “Nonie”

Passed peacefully on March 28, 2025 at the Elliott Community in Guelph at the age of 97. Beloved wife of the late Gene Finkbeiner; devoted mother of Christine (John), Michael (Leslee), Maureen (Peter) and Paul (Susan); proud grandmother of Kyle, Neil (Amanda), Jacob (Melonie), Laura (Duncan), Dalton (Haley) and Jackson; and great-grandmother of London, Ethan, Oliver, Adalyn, Eloise, and Mary. Nonie will be deeply missed by all who had the honour of knowing her.

Nonie was the fifth of seven children born to Einar and Florence Einarson. She grew up in various places in Muskoka but often said that her happiest childhood memories were from the time the family lived at Clear Lake near Vankoughnet. She remained close to her siblings her whole life. Nonie learned to knit when she was 4, she could turn the heel of a sock at age six. Her hands were never idle, she had to be busy. 

She worked as a nurse, getting her degree in Hamilton where she met Gene at the hospital. Once married, they moved to Barrie, finally settling in the village of Thornton where Nonie raised her family and lived for 60 years. She had a generous spirit that led her to knit thousands of mitts for people in need, and make beautiful cradles earning her the nick-name “the cradle lady”. She was the epitome of kindness and she was beautiful, inside and out.

Cremation has taken place, and her cremated remains will be interred at Thornton Cemetery to be with her dear husband Gene. A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

Thank you to all the staff at the Elliott Community for all their care and support. For those who wish, donations to The Children's Foundation Guelph and Wellington would be sincerely appreciated by the family.