Sombre send-off for Ja-born educator

TORONTO:

Jamaican Estella Albertha Wheeler, a 64-year-old Grade 7 and 8 teacher, known for her dedication and kindness, was found dead on March 6 in her home on Isa Court in Vaughan, Canada.

She was laid to rest on Saturday, April 13 in an emotional and sombre service at her home church, West Toronto Church of God, in Toronto.

Her husband Trevor Wheeler has since been charged with second-degree murder in the case.

In 2008, Wheeler migrated to Canada with her husband and their child, Tissa-Kaye, who eulogised her mother and addressed the main emotion of the congregation.

“Before I dive into Estella’s legacy of love and strength, I stand before you here today knowing that her passing has left us with sadness and many questions. I know everyone has their personal thoughts and feelings and impacted differently by this tragic loss. Your presence here shows that Estella’s life was impactful to you, others, and the community at large. Although we’re here in grief, I hope being here we can feel the sense of celebration of her life, her love, and her legacy,” she said.

Born April 15, 1959, in Clarendon, Jamaica, Wheeler was the daughter of Sylvester Webley and Veneta Lawrence.

She is survived by her mother(who was in attendance), and two sisters, Joyce and Blossom. She also leaves behind two sons, Trevon and Damian; daughters, Tissa-Kaye and Norma (step).

“She’ll continue to be our mother, our strength, and our best friend. Our mother embarked on a journey filled with faith in Jesus, educational achievements, community supporter and impacting the schools she taught, including the extra patience she had for troublemakers and an unwavering care she had for those around her,” she said.

“Mommy’s professional journey as an educator was not merely a career but calling. The first school she taught was New Green and Granville All-Age Schools, then at Central High for 15 years,” Wheeler informed.

Wheeler later taught at Brookview Middle School, Smithfield School, Rockford Public School, in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), then at Africentric Alternative School in North York, where she worked for more than seven years.

The school’s principal Hugh Reynolds, described her as “an ambassador for the Africentre Alternative School who went above and beyond to promote our institution and its unique approach to education”.

“She saw the value in our commitment to the NguzoSaba, the seven principles of Kwanzaa, which serve as the foundation of our school’s ethos. These principles guided Estella in her mission to instil resilience, academic and social excellence, and a strong sense of identity in our students,” Reynolds said during his delivery at the funeral service.

“Mrs. Wheeler was more than an educator; she was a beacon of compassion for teaching. Estella dedicated her life to bringing out the best in her students,” the headmaster declared.

He said her teaching style went beyond the textbooks, as she infused her lessons with real-world experiences and practical skills. “One of her greatest contributions to our school was her role in facilitating the Student Council. Through her leadership, she fostered a sense of community and collaboration that continues to strive today. And her passion for technology was inspirational, as she spearheaded robotics programmes that ignited a love for science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) in her students, “he highlighted.

Bishop Wayne Vernon delivered the sermon, after a full agenda of tear-filled tributes, inspirational dance recitals and songs. Throughout the ceremony students stood at attention at her flower-decked white casket.

Wheeler’s career in education spanned numerous years in Jamaica, beginning after graduating from Clarendon College in 1977, then as part of Church Teacher’s College’s, class of 1980.

In Canada, she graduated from the Royal College of Arts and Social Sciences in 2008, then from York University in 2010.According to Statistic Canada, in 2021, 90 homicide victims were killed by an intimate partner. Three-quarters (76 per cent) of these victims were women and girls. The number of victims of intimate partner homicide in 2021 was higher than in 2020 (84 victims) and 2019 (77 victims).