Obituary of Meretta Sterling-Turner

STERLING-TURNER, Meretta: Our beautiful and loving mother, wife, sister and aunt, “Aunt Merry” left us on a cold winter evening in January 2022. Though we are overcome with grief at this tremendous loss, we are resolved to celebrate the life of an amazing woman who touched everyone around her with a warm smile and unmatched kindness. At home she is survived by her husband Linton, daughters Duan, Sophia, sons Ian, Hugh, grandsons Nai, Ahj and daughter in law Pearl. Aunt Merry was also a loving mother to her stepchildren, nieces and nephews. Merry’s story begun on Wednesday evening December 17 1941. She was born in a little house in a village called Barnswood, St. Mary, Jamaica. Meretta was born to her mother Vera and father Lorenzo “Buzz” Sterling. She was their eighth of nine children. Merry came to know loss at an early age when her mother died shortly after giving birth to her youngest sibling. Despite the loss of her mother Merry grew up surrounded by love from her devoted father “Papa” and eight brothers and sisters: Lebert, Greeta, Nella, Glen, Jeff, Enid, Jenny, and Winnie. Like everyone in that community Merry went to Mt. Angus Primary and Junior High School where she was remembered as an excellent student. After graduating from Mt. Angus she trained as a seamstress and became widely known in St. Mary for her talents as a dressmaker. Meretta had two children in St. Mary, her first born Duan and later Ian. The sixties was an exciting time in a Jamaica, we gained our independence and there was mass migration from the countryside to Kingston. Merry like so many young people left home and moved with her younger child to the city where she grew her reputation as the creator of the some of hottest fashion items around, such as her signature caps which were all the rage in town. A New Life In Canada As with many Jamaican women at that time Meretta made the ultimate sacrifice to build a better life for her children. Leaving them in the care of her Father and Sisters Enid and Jenny. In 1972 she migrated to Toronto Canada, joining her sister Winnie. Through tremendous struggle and hard work Merry built that better life for her family. She continued her work as a designer in Toronto while working around the clock as a print finisher. Meretta met and married the love of her life, Linton Turner Sr. in 1979 and they had two children, Hugh Linton Jr. and Sophia. Duan and Ian moved to Canada join the family in 1980. Meretta made a home where all were welcome. She was always willing and ready to assist others whether they were family or strangers. Her Church Life Meretta always loved her church life. As a little girl she would follow behind her father Brother “Buzz” Sterling who was the most respected elder in the church and community. Merry had an amazing voice and was singer at the Hunts Town Seventh Day Adventist Church where she grew up. When she migrated to Canada she became a member of the Philadelphia SDA in Scarborough. Merry remained a beloved member of that congregation until the end. Funeral Service To Be Streamed On: Friday January 28,2022 at 10:00AM YouTube: Covenant Funeral Homes https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCF0xYnyv-9z8e3NVco94fXQ Facebook: Covenant Funeral Homes https://www.facebook.com/CovenantFH COVID 19 SAFETY PRECAUTIONS Face mask required, Social distancing enforced In accordance with capacity restrictions due to Covid-19, attendance will be restricted to invited guests only. INTERMENT TO FOLLOW AT 11:30AM PINE RIDGE MEMORIAL GARDENS 541 TAUNTON ROAD WEST, AJAX, ON Funeral arrangements entrusted to Covenant Funeral Homes Inc. (Balmoral Chapel) 2505 Eglinton Avenue East, Scarborough, Ontario M1K 2R1. Telephone: 416-265-2652