The Rev. Canon Muriel Hornby celebrating 35 years of ordained ministry in November 2019.

We are saddened to announce the death of the Rev. Canon Muriel Hornby in Thessalon hospital this morning (March 20^th) surrounded by family.  Muriel’s health had been failing over the last little while and just last week she suffered a stroke.

Born May 19, 1922 at Bradford, Yorkshire, England, Muriel attended St. Hilda’s Girls’ School in Whitby, England.  She went on to St. Katharine’s Teachers’ College (affiliated with the University of London).  Once in Canada, she received her B.A. from Laurentian University, Sudbury in 1973 and her B.Ed in 1982.

Muriel has served as a lay missionary in the church, as a clergy spouse (The Rev. Norman Hornby – pre-deceased), as a school teacher, and as a clergyperson.

Canon Muriel was ordained a deacon at Church of the Redeemer, Thessalon, on November 17^th, 1984 and priested on September 21, 1985 at St. John the Divine, North Bay.  This past November, she celebrated 35 years of ordained ministry with family and friends in Thessalon at the very church where she was first ordained.  Over many years, she has provided ministry in various capacities:  Honourary Assistant (St. Joseph and St. George); Assistant Priest (St. John the Divine, North Bay); Priest-in-Charge (Massey, Webbwood and Spanish River); Honourary Assistant (St. Luke’s Cathedral); Honourary Assistant and then Honourary Assistant Emeritus (Church of the Redeemer, Thessalon).  On October 29, 1990 she was installed as a Canon of St. Luke’s Cathedral.

At Diocesan Synod 2019, Muriel received prayers and 97^th birthday wishes from Archbishop Anne and all attending Synod.  In her very special way she joyfully accepted the greetings and offered humble thanks for the fuss.

A wife, a mother, a grandmother, a priest to many, a teacher to many, a mentor to many, a friend and delightful soul to any who knew her, Muriel will be missed.

We offer our condolences to her family and ask for God’s comfort and assurance for all those who mourn.

As plans unfold in the future to celebrate our dear Muriel’s life, we will keep her Algoma family advised.

‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ Matthew 25:21