Ilse GORDON

ILSE GORDON
Tai Chi and Chi Kung master, yoga instructor, meditation guru, adored mother and playful Oma merged with the light just after midnight on June 21, 2016, under the solstice full moon surrounded by those who loved her.

Before colon cancer took her body, she fought it with the same tenacity and courage with which she lived her exceptional life.

Strong, positive, with a deep love of learning, Ilse transformed herself many times. She was born in 1941, in Gossmaul, in the former Czechoslovakia, then after being displaced in WWII, was sent with her family as refugees to postwar Germany. To help support her family, she left school at twelve years old to sell cheese door to door. As a teenager, she dyed her hair mauve (to match her Vespa) and regularly slipped out of her bedroom window to become a jitterbug champion in the 1950s small town of Wetzlar.

Ilse met the father of her children, her former husband, Colin Gordon, in Stockholm. In the early 60s they moved to London, UK, where she became a glamorous mod hairdresser and eventually a young mother to Gisèle, Andy and Bruce. When the family immigrated to Canada in 1975, Ilse the bohemian seeker found her true calling with her first Tai Chi class. Her tai chi sword glinting in the sunlight over the chain link fences set her apart from the other 1970s suburban Oakville housewives and firmly on a path of lifelong learning and wellness.
Ilse became a revered and much-loved teacher whose learning spanned four continents and five decades. Her dedication and generosity as a teacher inspired countless people to transform their lives, overcome adversity and become their best selves.
A true lover of animals, Ilse was a saviour of the lost and orphaned of all kinds. Her home was a sanctuary for all, from injured snapping turtles and baby pigeons to wayward teenagers. Growing up in our home was a magical adventure where birds flew free, ducks had showers with us and all were cared for and loved.
Ilse's playful spirit made it easy to communicate with her grandchildren, especially the small 'squirpies' with whom she would play endless silly, joyful games. A beautiful spirit, inside and out, Ilse's ability to see into people and accept them for who they truly were made so many feel loved and truly welcome in her presence.

Her spirit is carried on by her children, Gisèle and her husband Archer, Andy and his wife Ching, Bruce and his wife Alexandra (Ola); their father, Colin Gordon; her eight grandchildren, Jasmine, Carson, Jade, Colin, Emiliana, Miyoteh, Karolina (Kaia) and Keewetin; her sisters, Helga and Heidi; brothers, Günter and Wolfgang; and dear friend Richard.

Our family is deeply grateful to all in her incredible care team, loving students and friends, her wonderful support workers and the excellent, compassionate staff at Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to a memorial fund established to support the things that Ilse most cared about: https://www.youcaring.com/IlseGordonMemorialFund

A Celebration of Ilse's Life will be held Wednesday, June 29th:

Visitation
Glen Oaks Funeral Home and Cemetery
3164 Ninth Line, Oakville, ON, CANADA L6H 7A8
Wednesday, June 29, 2016, 2:00-3:00 p.m.

Celebration of Ilse's Life - Service
Glen Oaks Funeral Home and Cemetery
3164 Ninth Line, Oakville, ON, CANADA L6H 7A8
Wednesday, June 29, 2016, 3:00 p.m.

A reception with light snacks, tea, coffee and juice will follow.

Details and directions here:

www.glenoaks.ca

(https://glenoaks.sharingmemories.ca/site/IlseGordon.html?s=1)