Avril Wanda Foster

"We've had a good life together - I've cherished our friendship and times. So please make my earthly finale as modest as possible - I wish T could soar like a phoenix - but, unfortunately - these bodies must be laid to rest.

No flowers ... I prefer palm trees.

No organ music ... I prefer salsa.

Lilac Hill is where I'll be resting - drop by, if you wish, to say a prayer.”

Avril Foster passed away on the10th of june 2026 at the age of 86 years, in Montreal from. She was born on April 12, 1940 in Montreal's ‘West End', now 'South West'. Avril attended St.Anthony's School for Girls and graduated from St. Patrick's Catholic Girls Academy in 1957.

After Avril completed her studies, she accepted a position with E.B. Eddy Paper before going on to work for Wood Gundy Investments and Seagram's Head Office.

Avril took a sabbatical from work only to return to Montreal to care for her ailing handicapped mother. During this time, she would accept contract work for Special Events at Palais de Congrès.

Avril's seven-year sabbatical was spent mostly in the Bahamas. She started up a cottage industry swimwear specializing in bikinis and matching cover-ups. She loved to sew, design and travel. Apart from work, Avril's passion was genealogy— proud to have traced her roots to the author of Of Canada, Sir Adolph Basile Routhier. Later in life, she taught Art & Dance Therapy. Her pleasures were her pet Beagles and occasionally Scotch-on-the-rocks. Her only regret was not continuing to play piano after five years of lessons.

"You make a living by what you get but you make a life

by what you give." by Sir Winston Churchill.

She was a consummate advocate for the needy and mentally vulnerable. An only child, she was devoted to her mother who instilled in her good values. Avril was a volunteer Board Member presenting Users of Julius Richardson Convalescence, Centre d'Acceuil Henri Bradet, NDG Senior Citizens Council and Good Shepherd 50+ Community Centre, also Co-chaired (1934) Fundraising Committee for Special Olympics (Quebec).

Described by friends as fierce & feisty; warm & witty, courageous & controversial but always driven & determined. Avril's late mother Rita Flanagan Foster (1908-1990) was her inspiration. Avril spent happy summers in Cantic, Qc with her cousins from the Flanagan, Murphy and Kennedy families. She will be deeply missed by her 'chosen daughter’ Jennifer Thomson who called her ‘Auntie Mom’. She would like to be remembered fondly by

her "chosen families' the Moores, Littles, Sullivans, and Colemans. She now has gone on to join her late friend Christina Nittolo.

Special thanks to friends Douglas Dayton, Karen Wilson Jacinto, and Mary Sullivan Metcalfe for their support and compassion. An extra special thanks to Teresa Di-Palma Melchior and her Godchild, Kevin Doherty.