Jonatha Kiley Dault

The world lost a sparkling soul with Jonatha Dault’s death on October 23, 2026. Born in Hamilton, Ontario, in 1963 to Margaret Crawford (Goheen) and Gary Michael Dault, Jonatha, was always uniquely herself. She grew into a woman (“I’m a big lady!”) who lived for her friends and family, for enjoying her beloved Broadway shows, for reading cookbooks, for smelling pretty, and for downing as many cups of coffee in a day as anyone would allow her. Jonatha’s rare chomosomal abnormality gave her superpowers for sharing unconditional love, living in the moment, arranging her stuffed animals perfectly in her bedroom, and delighting in every meal. Her questions of strangers were specific: what colour is your bedroom? Do you have a grandfather clock? What colour are your radiators? She noted the answers in her writing, filling as many notebooks as were available to her, and making the most remarkable drawings and paintings. Her smile lit up the room.

The beloved sister of Meredith Dault (Peter Christie), Julia Dault (Brian Sholis), and Alex Dault-Laurence, Jonatha moved into her first Salvation Army group home in 1977. There she made many lifelong friends in both her fellow residents and staff supports. For the last 33 years, she lived at the Spruce Hill facility in Toronto’s Beaches neighbourhood, travelling home for visits with family whenever she could, including at her mother’s home in Lakefield and Meredith’s home in Kingston.

Jonatha suddenly died of heart failure at Michael Garron hospital in Toronto while fighting an infection. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her, including her aunt, Rosemary Hyslop, her step-mother, Malgorzata Dault, her nephews, Walker and Rowan Sholis, nieces Daniella and Vanessa Tibasima, and Spruce Hill staff Sheryl Madden, Brenda Corrigan, and Cynthia Demel, among many others. She was predeceased by her grandmother, Beatrice Dault, who also loved Jonatha deeply.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, November 14 at 2pm, 150 Railside Road, North York.

Jonatha lived a full and joyful life. We were lucky to know her. She will be deeply missed.