Obituary of Mrs. Maureen Lonsdale

In Memory of Maureen Lonsdale
Passed: November 13, 2021
Born: Shipley, England
Resided: Vancouver, BC and Toronto, Ontario
Maureen Lonsdale, nee Ward, of Toronto, Ontario, passed away on November 13, 2021
from a long life of 88 years. She was escorted home by her youngest daughter, Maureen;
who shared her name.
Maureen was predeceased by her husband, Bryan Lonsdale, and their daughter, Sharon
Dawn nee Lonsdale, and both her parents, Sue and Robert (Bob) Ward. Maureen is
survived by her two sisters, Shirley and Vicki, her 3 daughters, Christie, Lisa and her
partner Gerry, Maureen and her husband Scott, her 5 grandchildren, Ashley and her
partner Aaron, Dylan (Sharon’s son) and his partner Kadi, and Samantha; Christie’s
children, and Maureen’s children, Carla and her husband Ryan, Wesley and his wife
Chrystal, and by her 10 great-grandchildren, Cody and his fiancé Emily, Kristanna,
Demetrius, Kaia, Everly, Tommy, Jake, Sky, Carlee and Brandon.
Mum was an incredibly beautiful and stylish woman, with a brilliant smile, and a zeal
for life. She loved her four young daughters immensely, sharing and showing her
affection, and giving her attention to homemaking in our early years; creating beauty in
not only in our family home, but wherever she went. Mum taught us independence with
a burgeoning, yet fierce, commitment to feminism of the 60’s and 70’s woman. You
could just as easily find her at the ballet, as doing the “shimmy” to Ike & Tina Turner’s
song, Proud Mary.
Mum was a voracious reader who remained curious and involved in current events as
well as historical fiction throughout her life. She passed this love of books, ballet, the
symphony, and opera, along to her daughter, Christie. A gift, I will always be grateful
for, as my love of the arts continues still today.
Mum dealt with her share of life’s disappointments and challenges to the best of her
ability. Sometimes overwhelming her and others, leading the charge! For all her bravado,
she was still a young woman of WWII, the economic ups and downs of life, and the
advancement of society from stoic England into the future of technology. It has been
bittersweet.
Prayer Corinthians 13:8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are
tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy
in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I
thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a woman, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For
now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know
fully, even as I am fully known. 13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is
love.
Godspeed Mum – you were deeply loved