Velva Viola Hemmings

Velva Viola Hemmings, née Smith, passed away on October 24, 2026, at Huntsville Hospice. She was born on June 21, 1936, in Bracebridge, Ontario, and lived a life marked by devotion to her family, faithful service to her community, and quiet, steady kindness.

Velva received her training through Toronto Western and went on to work as a nurse at Woodlawn Nursing Home, where she met her future husband, Edwin. Their meeting began a loving partnership that shaped the course of her life. Velva and Edwin were married in Huntsville on September 8, 1956, and together they built a home and family. She embraced the roles of homemaker and mother while also helping Edwin look after the farm, meeting each responsibility with care and dedication.

Service to others was woven deeply into Velva’s life. She headed a knitting group for the Save the Children Fund and volunteered in many capacities with local organizations, including Rowanwood and Fairvern Nursing Homes and funeral luncheons at Billingsley Funeral Home for Rebecah Lodge. She also gave generously of her time at Huntsville Trinity United Church. A proud member of the Rebekah Order, Velva achieved her lady status and served as Assembly Chaplain of the Rebekah Assembly of Ontario. She also held multiple office positions in the Huntsville Rebekah Lodge. Her caring nature remained active throughout her life, and more recently she knit more than 200 premie hats for babies at Orillia Soldiers Memorial Hospital.

Velva found joy in the work of her hands and in caring for those around her. She enjoyed dressmaking, making preserves, cooking, and baking pastries, creating comforts and traditions that will be warmly remembered by those who knew and loved her.

She was predeceased by her husband, Edwin.

Velva leaves behind a loving family who will continue to cherish her memory. She is survived by her son, John Hemmings, and his wife, Colleen, and by her daughter, Helen Coker, and her husband, Stephen. She was a proud grandmother to Alexander Hemmings, Christina Dodds and her husband, Maury, Heather Klekta and Sebastian Esche, and Cole Reid and his wife, Rebecca. She was also a proud great-grandmother to Kaiden Klekta. The love she gave so freely will remain a lasting gift in the lives of her family, and her example of generosity, faith, and devotion will not be forgotten.

The family extends heartfelt thanks to the nurses and doctors at Huntsville District Memorial Hospital and Algonquin Grace Hospice for their care and compassion.

A graveside service will be held at Madill Church, 485 Muskoka District Road 3, Huntsville, Ontario P1H 1C6.  As an expression of sympathy, memorial donations can be made to Huntsville Hospice https://www.hospicehuntsville.com/ or to the Cancer Society  https://cancer.ca/en/.

Velva will be remembered with deep affection for her warmth, her willingness to serve, and the many quiet ways she made life better for others. Her memory will live on in the family she cherished, the community she supported, and the countless acts of care that defined her life.