Renata Garklavs

With an astute mind and well-heeled to the very end, Renata’s life spanned from post WWI Riga, Latvia to the modern technology of artificial intelligence today. Across almost a century, she was living history at its best. But there was nothing artificial about her intelligence. She was voracious reader of the sciences, art, history, politics, culture, geography, nature, biographies and novels devouring several books a week over her 98 years. Throughout her life, she stayed current on trends, fashion and world affairs.

Following WWII after immigrating to Toronto, Renata revelled in peace and nature. It was her favorite place to be. It gave her immense joy to be amongst the pine trees at her beloved cottage on 4 Mile Lake, swimming to the sound of the loons and dining on Laimon’s fresh Perch catch of the day. She had a rare reverence for and understanding of Mother Nature and each and every living species on earth. Zoos were abhorrent to her. She was truly an early environmentalist. Gardening was a big passion. Flowers gave her joy. Renata loved to skate and ski and take long walks in the woods by the Credit River near her house.

Renata’s love for exploration, took her to Alaska, New Zealand, Africa, Hawaii, Spain, Venezuela, China, the Caribbean, California, New York, Grand Canyon, Vancouver, Quebec and more. Her travels meant a lot to her.

Dogs were beloved by Renata and she had five of them across her lifetime. In her advanced years when she no longer owned one she would take walks on her street with dog cookies in hand hoping to find a pooch to pet.

Renata also had a passion for fashion and culture. With a symphony violinist father and a well-known opera singer aunt, she had great appreciation for jazz and classical music. It filled the air in her home day and night. Renata could talk endlessly about multiple opera performances and singers as she had attended so many in her lifetime.

She was a master cook with an ultra discerning chef’s palate and was a flawless hostess. Her parties were full of joy, laughter, liberal libations and dancing amongst close and spirited lifelong friends - almost to sunrise. There was no limit on fun for her.

Abundant in wisdom, pragmatic in nature and adventurous in spirit, Renata highly valued fine dining with a good martini or bottle of wine and possessed a ready sense of wit and humour. She never suffered fools. She was always considerate. She was true to herself.

Dignity, grace, kindness, honesty, understanding, loyalty, humility, patience, discernment, empathy and gentleness were just some of Renata’s exemplary hallmark traits.

Heaven has gained an angel. She will be missed beyond measure by those here on earth.

A committal service for Renata will be held Saturday, July 5, 2025 from 1:00 PM to 1:30 PM at York Cemetery and Funeral Centre, 160 Beecroft Rd, Toronto, ON M2N 1W7.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Renata's memory may be made.