Jean Idella Bickford (previously Bastien, nee Walford)

Jean Idella Bickford (previously Bastien, née Walford) of Etobicoke, Ontario, passed away peacefully in Toronto, Ontario, on August 7, 2024, at the age of 92. Jean was born on June 12, 1932 to Annie (née Hartwick) and George Walford in Walford Station, a small village southwest of Sudbury, Ontario named after her grandfather. Jean always had stories of her childhood growing up with her 11 brothers and sisters (Albert, Lillian, Rita, Elva, Laura, Ferne, Jessie, Clinton, Maurice, Murray, Shirley) (all predeceased), first on the family farm in Walford Station and later in Sudbury. Jean went to school in Sudbury after the farm was sold. She finished high school there and then went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in languages at the University of Toronto in 1953. While at the University of Toronto, Jean met her first husband, Archibald Bastien (predeceased). They went on to have six children, Dorothy (John), Ruth (Sid), Evelyn (Neil), Ken, Alan, and Cathi (Wayne). Jean was a wonderful and supportive mother. She shared her love of reading, language, education and music with her children. She was very generous with her time, always volunteering for community organizations, especially those where her children were involved. Jean brought her family together by hosting family dinners with games of Scrabble or Cribbage and her famous pineapple dessert. Jean worked as a bookkeeper for many years with a brief interlude teaching Italian at a Toronto high school. She loved accounting so much that she upgraded her education and achieved her CGA/CPA designation in 1981, then kept on working until she finally retired at the age of 75. Jean’s second marriage was to Wesley Bickford (predeceased) in 1989, which added three stepdaughters to her family, Debbie (Mike), Diane (Dave) and Donna (Dan). This started a new adventure with Wes, following the CFL and becoming a Toronto Argonauts fan. Jean and Wes loved travelling. They honeymooned in Singapore and Thailand, fell in love with Hawaii, and took many other trips with family and friends. Jean is survived by all of her children (named above); grandchildren, Hilary (Adam), Stephen (Nicole), Kai, Dylan (Alex), Rachel (Phillip), Lila and Liam; cousin, Margaret (Austin); many Bickford/Bastien/Walford great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews; and many amazing friends. Jean considered her long time best friend, Gwen Giraudy (predeceased), as part of her family too and is survived by Gwen’s daughter, Cheryl (Ken), and Gwen’s granddaughter, Amelia Rose. The family would like to thank the wonderful staff at True Davidson Acres Long-Term Care Home, who have cared for Jean for the past two years. Please remember Jean and celebrate her life in your own way, as there will be no funeral service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Alzheimer Society of Ontario (https://alzheimer.ca/on/en).