Marilyn passed away December 23, 2024 at Sunnybrook Veteran’s Centre after living with dementia for three years. She is predeceased by her parents, Rose & Victor Byers, and her sisters Veronica & Geraldine. Marilyn was born at St. Michael’s hospital in Toronto. As a child her family moved to Montreal where she went to school and became a teacher. She had a passion for teaching kindergarten and in midlife she enrolled at OISIE (Ontario Institute for Studies in Education) at U of T to obtain her MEd. After retiring from teaching she felt she had more to give, so she moved to Cairo Egypt and taught for 2 additional years!
Marilyn was always a powerful advocate, initially for her sister who lived with cerebral palsy, then for her aging parents, then for PFLAG. Marilyn displayed a powerful commitment to social justice. We saw this in her many volunteer successes at her chosen church, Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto and in her leadership at PFLAG. Marilyn was definitely a force to be reckoned with and will be missed by many.
PFLAG Media release: please see link below
A celebration of life will be held for Marilyn on Friday, January 3, 2025 at Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto (115 Simpson Avenue, Toronto, ON) Visitation will be held in the chapel at 12pm, service will begin at 1pm (livestream https://youtu.be/JeljqxgnczU). Reception to follow.
Interment will take place on Saturday, January 4, 2025 at Holy Cross Cemetery (8361 Yonge St. Thornhill, ON) at 1pm. All are welcomed.
Memorial Donation Suggestions
Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto https://www.mcctoronto.com/
PFLAG York Region https://pflagyork.ca/
Participation House https://www.participationhouse.net/
"Signing off for now, [email protected]"
