Anna Taylor

Beloved and loving spouse of Philip (deceased 2018). Loving mother of Richard (Florence), Andrew (Hélène), Susan (Peter) and Helen (Steve). Proud and indulgent grandmother of Mathilde, Thomas, Théo, Claire, Sophie, Alexander, Louise, Leonard, Victor, Édouard, William and George.

Anna was born in London, England, on 24th January 1935. Her childhood was marked by the war, with her father Arthur enrolled in the Merchant Navy, and her mother Coral having to move the family several times to escape the bombings.

After finishing school and spending time in Paris, she obtained her LLB from King’s College London University, as one of only two women in the program. She was called to the Bar in 1962 .

She married Philip Taylor in February 1961 and they soon started a family. The family moved to Brussels in 1966 when Philip joined Texaco. It is during this time that she made some lifelong friendships both within the English expat community and with many Belgian mums she met whilst collecting the children from school.

The family arrived in Canada in 1980, Philip having been transferred by Texaco. After settling in and making new friends, she looked for opportunities to contribute to the community. She started by volunteering with the Cancer Society where she enjoyed meeting and supporting people as she drove them to their medical appointments. Anna then volunteered at the Gibson House for over ten years and was active in ensuring the House remained intact in its original location. However, she found her calling when she became a volunteer at the Aphasia Institute where she served for 29 years. She excelled at this and is remembered fondly by many members and volunteers for her sense of humor and genuine joy in members’ successes. She received many awards for her work over the years from the city of Toronto and other organizations for her dedication to volunteering.

At home, Anna was devoted to her husband and children, as well as to her sister Christina and to her nieces and nephew, but found time for her hobbies. A keen gardener, she spent many happy hours planting, weeding and watering flowers to beautify her garden. She was an avid and curious reader, enjoying modern novels and whodunnits, biographies and historical accounts. She could read several books a week and was always keen to share and discuss the ideas that they contained. A doting grandmother, she enjoyed the Sunday family ritual of teatime at her home when children and grandchildren would gather around her.

Her funeral mass will be held at St Gabriel’s Catholic Parish Church (670 Sheppard Avenue E, Toronto), her parish of 42 years, at 11am on Friday September 1st, followed by a reception (venue to be announced at the church). .

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to The Aphasia Institute:(https://www.aphasia.ca/donate/donate-now)

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.kanejerrettnorthyork.ca for the Taylor family.