Lillian Bernice Bromby Boyd

Passed away peacefully on Monday, January 26th at her residence at Thorne Mills on Steeles in Toronto at the age of 92. Bernice (Boo, Roo), beloved wife of the late Bruce Boyd was predeceased by her parents, Lillian and Harold, as well as her sister Dorothy (Smythe) and brother Murray (Bromby). She will be fondly missed by her many nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, godchildren, step daughter and ‘adopted children and grandchildren’.

Bernice was born on February 17th, 1922 and lived in west Toronto, spending summers on Wards Island where she made lifelong friends. She left high school at 17 to go to a temporary job as a secretary at the Toronto Board of Education on College St. Bernice remained there for 40 years, working as the Administrative Assistant to many Directors of Education for the TDSB.

Bernice was never one to sit still. Having been a brownie, guide and a ranger, she became leader of the North Young Rangers, taking many of those women and forming their own Trefoil Guild which still meets after 55 years. Bernice also was a leader of a guide group of girls with physical disabilities, some very severe. She attended World Guide Camps, choreographing the opening ceremonies at Doe Lake, Ontario, in 1957. Her vivacious, inclusive and heart-warming personality meant that she had many friends around the world.

Bernice also worked as a volunteer in the archives at the Girl Guide Headquarters in Toronto, as well as at the University of Toronto, which awarded her at a volunteer dinner for her years of service; the only volunteer who was not an alum, nor a university graduate.

In 1980, Bernice married Bruce Boyd. Together they travelled all over the world and took Later Life Learning classes. A musician herself (piano and harp). Bernice loved attending the National Ballet and Opera many times a year in Toronto with her dear friends and introducing many people, young and old, to both genres. She taught folk dancing weekly until she was about 75 years of age.

In addition, Bernice loved nature and the outdoors, able to recognize different birds and their calls and the names of all variety of flora. Two of her favorite pastimes were gardening and picking and arranging bouquets of wildflowers.

Bernice is survived in Canada by her nephew, Robert Smythe, (Sue), and nieces, Pat Buie (Neil) and Sandra Rutherford (Bruce) and in England, by her step-daughter Heather Boyd (Norman).

Bernice was never afraid to try anything. She believed in the uniqueness of everyone and the need to ‘celebrate gracious living’. Bernice’s remains have been cremated and “A Celebration of Life” will be held at a later date in the spring. Donations in Bernice’s name to the Alzheimer’s Society of Canada would be appreciated.