Tonya Estelle Laycoe

She leaves behind a husband, Steve, daughter, Stevie, mother, Suzanne, brother, David, faithful corgi, Trixie, and numerous friends. Tonya is welcomed into the afterlife by her father, Bob, baby brother Robert, grandfather, Hal, grandmother, Marjorie, beloved pets, and many aunts and uncles. It must be mentioned that her father, Bob Laycoe, was a University of British Columbia professor, and football and wrestling coach. He was also the head football coach at the University of Toronto. Her grandfather, Hal Laycoe, was an illustrious NHL player and coach. Tonya was always profoundly proud of their accomplishments; she preserved their legacies and loved them deeply.

Tonya was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. She lived there until she was four years old, and whilst there she formed a special bond with her Great Aunt, Edna, and Great Uncle, Norval. This special love and connection between them would last a lifetime. The next fifteen years were spent living in Richmond, British Columbia; where Tonya was embraced by a wide circle of friends. Her late teenage years brought a move with her family to Markham, Ontario, where she began her career as a realtor. Tonya was the youngest realtor to pass the exam at the time and worked incredibly hard to do so. Despite this, she did not stay in Ontario long as the call of the beautiful West Coast and her dear friends beckoned her. Whilst there Tonya successfully climbed the corporate ladder until the birth of her daughter, Stevie. Tonya would live in the Lower Mainland for the rest of her life.

Tonya joined every sport and outside activity available throughout her entire childhood and young adult years. She was an athlete and was on the baseball team, soccer team, and basketball team. Tonya was an accomplished ice skater and tried to impart this talent upon her daughter, who to everyone's sadness, was born with her father’s two left feet. Tonya had a love of the outdoors which was strengthened in childhood by many summer camping trips with her family (and always a friend) to the Oregon Coast and Wallowa Mountains. She continued this tradition into adulthood and spent her summers camping with her daughter.

Tonya’s love of books was legendary. She was an avid reader at a very young age and her husband often grumbled over carrying her many boxes of books when they moved. Tonya shared this love with her daughter, and so her husband will continue with his grumbling. One of Tonya’s greatest accomplishments was to provide an environment for her daughter’s love of Christ to grow. Tonya had been a proud member of Job’s Daughters and held a strong belief in God.

Tonya dedicated her life to motherhood and homemaking. She married her husband, Steve, on May 16th, 2003. Her wedding was the event of the season, and her marriage was long awaited. Two years later her daughter was born! She was three months premature, and Tonya had a very difficult birthing process. In an instant, Tonya loved her daughter with her whole heart. In the interest of taking care of her daughter, Tonya dedicated herself to motherhood. She ensured her daughter was brought up properly.

She loved entertaining friends at every opportunity and in doing so, she brought her community together. She celebrated each holiday to the fullest, especially Christmas. Tonya’s beautiful eyes always held a special spark and her knack for making any day a special day will be missed.

Tonya will be remembered for her giving nature, quick wit, unique sense of humor, and infectious laugh. She was always the first to help any friend in need or any person at all for that matter. Tonya accomplished much in life, but perhaps her greatest accomplishment was seeing her daughter, Stevie, into adulthood. Stevie’s social skills and kindness can be attributed to the care her mother put into conveying the importance of such things. Tonya’s love for her family was insurmountable.

Tonya is no longer with us in body but will always be with us in spirit and we will feel her extraordinary strength, intelligence, love, and guidance forever.

There will be a mass to commemorate Tonya soon.