Loretta Fonso | June 25th 1949 - March 16th 2021
Today, our dear friend, colleague, and trustee was laid to rest.
Loretta Fonso was a true educator, through and through. From a young age she felt the call to her vocation - honing and influencing the lives of her students throughout her career. It would be fair to say that Loretta was compassionately determined. She had the ability to recognize the potential in her students and was intent on them achieving their grades on their own merit, with her positive reinforcement along the way.
Loretta was proud of her students, but she was especially proud of her own children, Steven and Leanne. She took pride when friends and colleagues asked about her children’s lives and their accomplishments. Her face could light up a room; she beamed with pride at the mere mention of her grandchildren, or any of her family members.
As a retired teacher, it was difficult to ever truly leave a profession… and Loretta loved being in our schools and seeing staff and students as a Trustee and Vice-Chair. With visitor limitations and lack of events or school gatherings, this year was a challenge for her. She loved attending every play, production, tea, or event. She would be each school’s number one fan, especially St. Patrick (#onceasaintalwaysasaint). Her tenacious spirit had her making calls to the Board office, asking when she would be able to enter a classroom, and how much PPE she needed to wear to make it happen.
It’s truly difficult to encapsulate Loretta’s stamina, determination and dedication to our Board and our community. Her passion was illuminated as OECTA President, teacher, trustee and she continued to be a strong advocate for Catholic education in her retirement years. She worked tirelessly to defend, protect and champion those around her and truly treasured her unwavering faith and spirituality.
She will be greatly missed by loving family, especially her cousins; Anita Treesh and Board Chair Francis Veneruz. Left to mourn are her former Saints - students and staff, her new friends, old acquaintances, her friends at the CEC and her fellow Board members: Francis, Eleanor, Phil, Lawrence, Dina and Kathy.
We have lost one of our own and it is truly heartbreaking.
Today we will remember and honour Loretta by lowering our site flags to half mast. Together we will pray for her family and friends and continue to keep her spirit alive through all we do within our schools and our community.
