Elizabeth Lauren TOON

ELIZABETH LAUREN TOON A brilliant and complicated woman. Born in St. Mary's Township, ON November 1, 1944. Died in Toronto December 5, 2018. Predeceased by her parents, Lawrence Toon (stepmother, Gayle) and Elizabeth (nee Hefford); stepfather, William G. Wilson; and her beloved brother, Garry Toon (Karyn). Mother of Maryrose Coleman (Ross Halloran), Robert Coleman (Christie Sondergaard) and Emily Rea. Auntie to Robert, Joanne, Danny Mae and Geordie Toon. Beloved Nan to James Rea, Chloe (Jonathan Marcella) and Rachel Verner, Riley, Rebecca and Jonathan Coleman. Nan had a special relationship with her stepdaughter, Kali Coleman (Andy Burston), their daughter, Lucy Burston and Kali's mother, Sarah Miller; as well as her "new" granddaughters, Jackie (Peek Freans) and Samantha Halloran Cooper. Twice married, first to the poet Victor Coleman (Kate Van Dusen) with whom she had her three children, and then to engineer and musician David MacKenzie, who predeceased her. Elizabeth forged special bonds with Victor's sisters, Liz Amer, Alice Coleman, and especially Muriel Coleman (Ray Cooper) with whom she shared her love for sewing. An artist, philosopher and poet, Liz (aka Nan) was involved in many artistic endeavours throughout her life. Graduating from Thistletown Collegiate and later George Brown, Liz worked at Canada Post for years before leaving due to health issues. She worked for a number of years at the Harbour Castle Hotel as a seamstress and as the supervisor of linens and uniforms. She spent many years helping her children raise their children and forging a special bond with all of her grandchildren who fondly recall "Stories with Nan". Nan celebrated creativity and was a passionate watercolour artist and seamstress, creating doll clothes and costumes for her grandchildren, one of a kind dolls sold under the label "A Very Nice Doll" and wonderful needlepoint canvases of special places such as the family cottage on Belmont Lake. She was involved with the Workman Theatre Project at CAMH where she exhibited her watercolours and these were also shown at several galleries in Toronto over the years. Her watercolours were also featured in a group show at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington. In her younger days, Elizabeth was actively involved with The Bohemian Embassy, part of the emerging Toronto poetry and art scene. Rekindling her love of poetry and the written word at the Salon at the Saloon, she would delight audiences with her spoken word poems. Liz touched many lives and left each person enriched for knowing her. Liz had a special relationship with Jesus and it was through his spiritual leadership that she found salvation in the difficult times and joy in the happier ones. She would often sing gospel songs and recite the Serenity Prayer: "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference." Special thanks to Kristal Lewis MSW, Dr. Yee Ung and the team at Odette Cancer Centre. Thank you to the Palliative Care Team at Sunnybrook Hospital, most especially the nurses who cared for mom with compassion, dignity and grace in her last weeks. There will be a Celebration of Life held Saturday, December 15th from 1-4 p.m. at 111 St. Clair Ave. W. Toronto main floor party room. Paid parking available. In lieu of flowers, donations to Workman Arts, Sunnybrook Palliative Care or Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Centre would be greatly appreciated.