IRMA COUCILL Obituary

IRMA SOPHIA COUCILL August 8, 1918 - November 29, 2015 Peacefully at the age of 97. Mother to John and Tom. Mother-in-law to Nancy Kimoff and Nancy Coucill. Adoring Nana to Christopher (Adrienne), Alix (Salvatore) and Simone (Sean). Predeceased by her husband, Walter Jackson Coucill, RCA. She was an inspiration to thousands. A classy lady and talented artist, Irma wanted to be remembered for the happy times shared with family, friends and associates. Final arrangements are for immediate family only. If you wish, please donate to the charity of your choice in her name.

Published by Toronto Star from Dec. 5 to Dec. 6, 2015.

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Hi Tom

It is with a heavy heart and regret that we reconnect with you (having tried to send this text to an older email that bounced back).

We were sitting at the dining room table this Christmas Day. We were recounting a dinner that your mom joined us at some time ago. We had a new friend at the table who has an interest in portrait art. We told the story that we have told many times about the chance encounter between your mom and our son Matt (the abridged version below). Our friend looked your mom up on the internet. There we found the Toronto Star obituary. Our hearts lost a beat.

You do not need to be told what a special mom you have. We were honoured to have met her. We wish we had stayed in touch more. We wish we had contributed to chronicling her life. We all wish and regret a lot of things in retrospect.

But, we certainly want to take this moment to wish you and your family the best (retroactively and moving forward) at what must have been and what will continue to be a difficult time. She was a bright light. A totally special person! A special person to you, to us, and to this country.

So again so sorry for your loss and for not staying in touch.

Irma - we will miss you! In our hearts you bright light will continue to shine.

Craig, Patti, Matt, D'Arcy (and Marion my mom; and Jim [Poppy] my dad)

(416-994-0832)
[email protected]

Abridged Version:

We were walking along Broadway Avenue one day over a decade ago - my teen aged son and I. There was an awesome car in the driveway. We wanted to look at it - but didn't want to lurk without asking. So - we knocked on the door. Irma answered and charmingly gave us the keys to open the doors of the car. We thanked her, refused the keys and took a few minutes to look at the car. We knocked again to thank her. She invited us (these total strangers) in for a tea. Her reasoning was that she "liked talking to young people".

There we heard the incredible stories of her and her husbands life. She began with her husbands life and more reluctantly shared some of her own stories. Including those of her relationships with Margaret Atwood and Al Purdy (a man who I had met in my own childhood). Stories of the Group of Seven and calls and letters from Prime Ministers. Including the story of being mad at Brian Mulroney for not having written to thank her for his portrait - and then receiving a direct phone call from him to thank her directly! Stories of countless invitations to the Hockey Hall of fame, and Financial Hall of Fame etc. Her stories and life were intertwined with Canadian history and the Canadian present.

She asked my young son to visit her to continue their conversations. Matt did this on a number of occasions moving forward.

At some point I asked Irma if she would consider a commission to sketch Matt. She smiled (over the phone) and indicated that I couldn't afford her work. I asked her to try me. She asked me to send Matt over to discuss it. He did go over ... she sketched Matt and would not entertain payment. She thought Matt was a special kid. We think she was a special person, artist and part of Canada's collective conscience.

Craig Kinch

December 29, 2015

I never met Irma but we spoke a few times on the phone. She was the first to respond to an ad I placed in the Globe and Mail's National Personals in 2004, looking for information about Toronto sculptor Merle Foster. Irma had known Foster, through Walter, because Foster did display work for Simpsons. I then learned that it was Irma who produced the portraits of the inductees in the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame, which I covered as a journalist. I'm very sorry to learn of her passing.

Terry Murray

December 14, 2015

Aunt Irma loved me like a mother. Our visits are a highlight of my life. Her portraits captured the essence and true identity of a person. Irma was marvellous in every way and altogether lovely.

Colleen Shinkewski

December 13, 2015

We continue to admire Irma's gifted talent, and will remember her dedication and contribution to Canadian history through her exceptional portraits. She was a very caring and kind person to all who knew her, and will be deeply missed by family and friends.

Don and Judy Fleming

December 9, 2015

In memory of a Classy Lassie with one of the finest talents one could ever find in an "artist" of international repute ... Ted and Lil.

December 8, 2015

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