Lynda Frances Ruth James (née Mc Donald)
(1942-2026) Lynda Frances Ruth James passed away quietly on May 17, 2026, with her family by her side.
Everyone who knew her feels the impact of her passing. She was born to Ruth and Ira Mc Donald on November 18th, 1942, and grew up mostly in Hamilton, Ontario with her parents and three brothers. Being raised around boys gave her a solid sense of family values, independence, courage, and a rebellious streak. She trained as a nurse and worked at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Hamilton before marrying Richard James in 1964. Early on in their marriage, the couple moved to Manchester, England where Lynda continued her training and worked in neurosurgery research at the Manchester Royal Infirmary. That’s also where she had her son Timothy in 1967. The young family then moved to Toronto that same year where their daughter April was born in 1969. By 1970 they settled for good in Sudbury, Ontario.
Right away Lynda got involved in making changes around Sudbury. She fully embraced the feminist movement of the time and led by example-living life without worrying about traditional roles or expectations. One of the first things she did was help start Sudbury’s very first community-based preschool which made it easier for women like herself to have lives beyond just home duties. In the ’70s she began working at Cambrian College while earning a BA in Psychology from Laurentian University along the way. In 1975 she founded Cambrian’s Women’s Center located right at the front entrance-a bold step that aimed to support women locally. After graduating she stayed on as a Career Counselor and later led Cambrian’s ‘Futures Program’ during the mid-1980s-basically an early version of today’s ‘Career Pathways Program’ helping young folks plan their futures carefully. Always chatting away comfortably even with strangers about what lay ahead for them and how they wanted to get there; though sometimes embarrassing for her teens at home they learned plenty from seeing how open minded and forward thinking she was.
In the early part of this century Lynda retired but didn’t slow down much-she dove into pottery while also spending lots of time looking after grandkids. Her pottery gained respect both locally here in Sudbury and over on Manitoulin Island too. Her work took her all over-from Australia to Scotland plus places like California and North Carolina-and through it all you could see how Northern Ontario inspired much of what she created alongside influences from other artists she met along those journeys.
She leaves behind husband Richard James; son Timothy James (Marisue) along with grandsons Tate James and Landen James (Mia) all living here in Sudbury; daughter April James (Andrew) who lives up north near North Bay; brothers Dale Mc Donald (Emily) and Wynn Mc Donald (Linda), both still in Hamilton. She was predeceased by father Ira Mc Donald (1970), mother Ruth Mc Donald (née Mac Kenzie) (2009), plus brother Larry Mc Donald who passed last year (2025).
We want to thank all staff from Emergency, Cardiac & Radiology Units at Health Sciences North as well as City of Lakes Family Health Team for their excellent care during difficult times here recently. A celebration gathering will happen June 17th at Royal Canadian Legion – Dr Fred Starr Branch 76 located at 1553 Weller Street Sudbury ON from one until four pm if you’d like to come say goodbye or share memories together. Instead of flowers please consider giving something to YWCA Sudbury.
Lynda devoted so much time caring for family & community alike but also loved recharging creatively whether working quietly at pottery studio or relaxing at cabin on Manitoulin Island surrounded by nature & loved ones close by – truly our joy, heart & hero rolled into one person we’ll miss forever.
Arrangements entrusted to the Lougheed Funeral Home, www. lougheedfuneralhomes. com
