Elizabeth Anne Dilworth

DILWORTH, ELIZABETH ANNE (nee SELBY) Elizabeth Anne Dilworth (née Selby), age 91, passed away peacefully on January 6, 2025, at home, comforted by her faith and the care of her children and grandchildren. Born on August 6, 1933, to Thomas and Elizabeth Selby, she was the third of seven children. Elizabeth grew up in the Beach area of Toronto, where she began her lifelong athletic and fitness interests with her siblings, on the rinks and baseball fields of Orchard Park. She attended St. John's Elementary School and St. Joseph's High School, where she made lifelong friends. As an avid student who excelled in the sciences, Elizabeth graduated from the University of Toronto in 1954 with a degree in Physical and Occupational Therapy. Deeply professional, she never missed an opportunity to advocate for her patients. After leaving practice to raise eight children, Elizabeth returned to academics 30 years later and renewed her credentials in physiotherapy. She utilized her professional skills and knowledge throughout her life demonstrating exercises, even after the age of 90, for family members seeking advice. Elizabeth exercised weekly with her personal trainer until the month of her passing.

In 1955, Elizabeth and Alan Joseph Dilworth (Al) married and began a devoted partnership of 59 years, until Alan's death in 2014. They shared a deep love of family and provided their eight children the opportunity for lasting relationships with grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. As a couple they shared in and supported each other in their professional, personal, and educational pursuits and interests. The chalet and trips to Hilton Head Island afforded many opportunities to share their mutual love of golf, skiing, and tennis with family and friends. Elizabeth's most precious vocation and daily mission was to love, support, and encourage her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. As a young mother, she spent hours in the cold waters of Lake of Bays, supporting one child after another, determined to give each one the chance to waterski...shouting "ready" to our dad, at the helm of the boat, and "lean back" to the unsuspecting novice skier. Her "can-do" attitude was invoked in all her endeavors. She sent emails, texts, made phone calls, and visits to each grandchild, keeping abreast of their challenges and celebrating and encouraging their talents and gifts.

There was always an open invitation in her home and adding another at the table was her greatest joy. Elizabeth was an accomplished cook and made amazing meals for her family and friends, able to feed dozens of people with efficiency and flair (an important skill when you have over 40 descendants). Despite very full family and professional lives, Alan and Elizabeth role modelled humility and gratitude and how to live a generous and community engaged life. Elizabeth always made time to support and encourage refugee families, comfort patients at St. Michael's Hospital Palliative Care Unit, assist at the Our Lady of Lourdes Food Bank, deliver communion to residents of the Rekai Centre, and offer a kind word, connection, and a "hand up" to those living without the security of housing. Elizabeth gave thanks each day for her life and remembered those who were in need. In 2014, in recognition of their many decades of community contribution as a couple, our parents were recognized by the University of Toronto, Regis College, Jesuit School of Theology, with an honorary degree of Doctor of Sacred Letters. As their children, we are forever grateful to have been guided by two people who were so generous with their resources and talents and deeply compassionate with an unwavering desire to instill hope in others. Our mother's commitment, principles, and desire for justice in our world remained present even in her final days. Elizabeth was grateful for her many circles of friends who brought her great joy, laughter, and companionship over the years. She will be missed by her family, many caring friends, and the strangers she passed offering a kind word or greeting. In the words of a high school friend, "Elizabeth made you feel like she wanted to know you and be your friend" and her "Mother Power" will live on forever.

Children, Mary (Tom Cable), Lisa (John Leon), Joan (late Peter Copp), Joseph (Lisa Watson), Catherine (Laura Hall), Lynette, Michael (Stephanie van Es) and Alan (Maev Beaty); grandchildren, Jonathan (Camby), Sarah (Paul), Anna, Thomas (Dianne), Mark (Jaime), Michael (Shari), Matthew (Jacqueline), Vanessa (Justin), Kaitlin, Alyssa, Ryan, Brittany (Jeremy), Alex (Ashley), Stephanie (Josh), Charlotte, Madison (Claire), Danielle, Lauren, Aidan, Jack and Esmé; great-grandchildren, Cameron, AJ, Ben, Jack, Lyla, Cohen, Olsen, Isla, Jack, Emery, Alec, Landon, Toby, and Scarlette. Siblings, Norma Lundy, Catherine Chisolm (Ian), John Selby (Judy). Elizabeth was preceded in death by her husband, Alan Dilworth; brothers, Tom, Paul, and Joseph Selby; and her son-in-law, Peter Copp.

A special thank you to Fathers Costello and Mbugua for their spiritual leadership, and to Dr. Lee, the Hematology Clinic of St. Michael's Hospital, Dr. Ailon, St. Michael's Hospital Palliative Care, and for the kind and compassionate care extended to our mother and family. Visitation for friends and family will be held on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, from 3-7 p.m. at Rosar-Morrison Funeral Home & Chapel, 467 Sherbourne Street (South of Wellesley), Toronto, Ontario. Elizabeth's Funeral Mass will be held at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish (520 Sherbourne St.) on Thursday, January 30, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. At the request of Elizabeth, in lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto (https://stmichaelsfoundation.com) or Romero House (https://romerohouse.org) Condolences at www.rosar-morrison.com. "Rest gently mom...we will take it from here!"