Alva Crawford (nee Cormack)

Fiercely independent and a lifelong MacGyver when faced with a challenge, Alva Crawford passed away on May 31, 2026, after a long and well-lived life of more than 107 years.

Alva was born in Arthur, Ontario, to parents Lottie and Henry A. Cormack. The youngest of nine children, she grew up on the family farm and she was very close to her siblings throughout their lives.

She is survived by her children Margaret ‘Peggy’ Simionati, Elizabeth ‘Betty’ Smusiak, Gordon ‘Gord’ Crawford, and daughter-in-law Debra Crawford; her grandchildren and their spouses Sima and Trevor Haarsma, Nathan and Kristin Crawford, Cameron and Sharon Couzelis, Cara Smusiak, and Steven Michael Smusiak; her great grandchildren Alexandria Couzelis and Calysta Couzelis; and many nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and -nephews, and great grand-nieces and -nephews.

She is predeceased by her husband William ‘Bill’ Crawford, her husband Reginald Vivian Crawford, her sons-in-law Italo ‘Bud’ Simionati and Steven Smusiak, and her siblings Edna Cormack, Evelyn Hawkins, Mary Allen, Irene Evans, Lorne Cormack, Mervin Cormack, Albert Cormack, and Gordon Cormack.

As a child, Alva played both piano and zither. Later, she put her agile fingers to use as a typist and clerical worker in the insurance industry, working with companies in Toronto and Barrie. She was a lifelong record-keeper, writing letters, family histories, and her lists — which spanned anything and everything.

Her happiest moments were spent hosting family dinners and euchre nights with her friends and neighbours, cooking, baking, and making preserves, and tending her garden filled with an abundance of vegetables, fruit, and beautiful flowers. She was known for making the best raspberry preserves and jam — a prized gift amongst her grandchildren, in particular. And she loved sitting out in her sunroom in the evenings, with a cup of tea, looking out over Kempenfelt Bay, often accompanied by a beloved cat or dog.

Deeply religious, Alva was also a longtime member of the Anglican Church Women (ACW), a Sunday school teacher, and longtime parishioner of St. George’s Anglican Church in Barrie.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to the wonderful team of folks who helped provide care for Alva in recent years. We are deeply grateful to her in-home PSW Lisa, who assisted her for many years, and we wish to thank Nancy and Manuela from The Other Daughter Senior Care Services for providing daily support in the month before she moved into long-term care. We are also grateful for the kind staff at Mill Creek Care Centre, who assisted Alva each day in her last year.

In accordance with Alva’s wishes, she has been cremated. A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, at St. George’s Anglican Church, 9 Granville St., in Barrie, Ont., with visitation immediately preceding, beginning at 1 p.m. in the church’s Memorial Hall. Guests are invited to remain for a reception following the service.

The family also invites anyone with a garden to bring one fresh-cut flower from it to honour Alva. The flowers will be arranged and photographed for the family — a fitting tribute, as Alva loved photographing flowers from her own garden.

Private interment at Barrie Union Cemetery will follow at a later date.

The family would appreciate donations in memory of Alva be made to the Barrie Food Bank or CNIB Guide Dogs.

Online condolences and memories of Alva may be shared below.