Colette Boright (nee Mille)
Colette Marguerite Boright
November 24, 1937 – October 26, 2018
Colette Boright (nee Mille) passed away peacefully at Kensington Hospice in Toronto on October 26, 2018 after a short and brave battle with cancer.
Colette, or “Coco” as she came to be known by her family and friends arrived in Toronto in 1957 at the age of 20, when (as she would often tell us), the Royal York Hotel was the tallest building in town, and the city shut down at 6 pm every day and on Sundays. She held a variety of different jobs in the hospitality and service industry and settled into a rooming house on Lippincott Street near Kensington Market.
Later she married Franklin Boright and they stayed very close after their marriage ended until he passed away in 1984.
Coco loved music, painting, history and travel. She frequently returned to France and enjoyed spending time with her brother, sister and their families whenever she could. She was a proud Torontonian and Canadian; so much so that she became a tour guide, leading tours of the city and Country to visitors from around the world. This gave her much joy, and kept her active to the very end. Her last city tour was in early June.
She will be missed by all and most especially by her children and grandchildren: Jennifer, Edwin, Zachary, Sarah and Gabby, Blake, Darlene, Mike, Abby, Max and Katelin. A celebration of her life will take place later in November.
Thank you to the wonderful team of volunteers, nurses and doctors at Kensington Hospice. Coco felt so blessed to be surrounded by such love and support. If you wish to make a donation in honour of Colette, you can do so here: Donate in Memory of Colette Boright.
Offer Condolence for the family of Colette Boright (nee Mille)
Jane Porteous
Jennifer, I was very sorry to receive the sad news about your mother. My deepest sympathy to you and your family.
I don’t know if you and Jennifer still keep in touch, but very sad about her mum too. TFS touched all our lives in a good way. Take care, Jane
John McTaggart
I only knew Colette briefly through her work in the Tour Guide industry.
I was deeply saddened to hear of her passing. I enjoyed working with her.
“Say not in grief, ‘She is no more.’ but live in thankfulness that she was” ~ Hebrew proverb
Kevin Sturdy
Hello, I am very sorry to read this news even if it is so late. Colette was a wonderful person and I truly and sorry to see she has passed away. Colette worked for me for many years in Toronto and I always found her to be a wonderful and truly caring person. I will greatly miss her and I would like to pass on my condolences to the family.
Greg Laviolette
I only knew Colette for a short time in 1985. I met her daughter, Jennifer, working at a summer camp in Algonquin Park. Jennifer and I quit camp a few days before the season finished and stayed with Colette at a cottage near the park. I always remember how gracious she was to me, a 20 year old, new wave, gay kid. I ended up on this page Googling Jennifer so, Jennifer if you see this, everything is great with me. Hope you’re good.