Obituary of Celia Mary Horwood

Celia Mary Horwood (née Roberts), 67 years old, was born on July 19, 1952 in Brampton, Ontario, Canada and passed away on November 11, 2019 in Tucson, Arizona after battling a stroke and leukemia. She is preceded in death by her father, Thomas Keith Roberts, and her mother, Mary Regina Quigley. Celia is survived by her husband, Michael Stephen Horwood, her two sons, Joshua Thomas Horwood and Jacob Louis Horwood, her sister, Jane Grenville Ridley, and her grandson, Eliot Michael Horwood. Celia was best known for her generosity, glowing smile, openness, affectionateness, inquisitiveness, engaging people in conversation, and offbeat sense of humor. She obtained an Associate's Degree in Dance from Ryerson University (Toronto, Canada) in 1974. Upon graduation, she taught dance at local schools. From 1977 to 1997, Celia worked at the Humber Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning (Toronto, Ontario) assisting in the college's fundraising activities and servicing students with special needs. On April 2, 1994, Celia was confirmed and shared in the Holy Eucharist at St. Anthony of Padua RC Church (Brampton, Ontario). For several years after, she sponsored candidates and catechumens for the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) program. In 2000, Celia authored the biography of her father, Canadian landscape painter, Tom Roberts. Celia had a wide range of activities and interests including love of art, amusement parks and roller coasters (and was a member of the American Coaster Enthusiasts and European Coaster Club), travel (having visited all 50 US States and 10 Canadian provinces), fine dining and wine, fitness and health, hiking, bicycling, cooking, family, and tea time. Celia was an avid concert-goer and listener to music including classical, opera, ballet, jazz, and bluegrass. The family would like to extend their deepest appreciation to the doctors, nurses, and staff of Oro Valley Hospital, Northwest Medical Center, St. Mary's Hospital, and the Neurological ICU Wing at Banner University Medical Center. A celebration of life will be held at St. Mark's RC Church (Oro Valley, AZ) on November 23, 2019 at 9:30 am with Father John Arnold officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the San Xavier del Bac Mission Church (sanxaviermission.org).