Lyn T. Jackson
Lyn T. Jackson, my vibrant, charming, bold, eccentric, frustrating, feminist, lovely, grand, yet quiet introverted mum has died, January 24, 2021, peacefully, at the age of 87, at Bridgepoint Hospital, in Toronto. She is no longer struggling.
Lyn was born in Stratford Ontario, March 12, 1933, as Thelma Marilyn Joyce (Bunny) Flood, a small town girl with big dreams. She and fellow Stratfordian and school friend Lloyd Robertson started out at the local radio station. She went on to be a CBC Announcer for Expo 67, and performed in films and theatre, from narrating the 1984 Alex Colville biography, to TV’s Empire Inc, to silliness in Police Academy 3 (IMDB). She was an activist in feminism and for ACTRA, with a sharp mind and quick wit.
She leaves behind her daughter, Lisa J Dempster, and her beloved family, friends, and cousins far and wide. She is predeceased by her son William (Bill) Arthur Pike the 2nd.
Thank you all for the friendship you have offered mum over the years. She led a complicated but full life.
Due to covid, we will only be holding this virtual memorial. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in Lyn’s memory to Toronto’s Mount Sinai Foundation for the excellent support of their Reitman Centre.
Lynn
Love and peace to you Lisa 🕊Until we meet again, my sweet One n. 🧡-Two n’s
Cathy Young
It was an honour to know this fabulous soul. I will miss her a lot however I know she’s flying Free.
Rest In Peace and Power dearest Lyn,
My deepest condolences to Lisa and the family. Lisa you did a yeoman’s job
caring for your beloved Bunny.
RIP Lady Lyn
Catherine Plowright
Not the feminist statement of the century, but it has to be said that Lyn was an exceptionally beautiful woman, even in her 80’s. She was lots of fun and I enjoyed her company from my age 7 to 61. With Lisa and for Lisa she carried on after the unfathomable loss of her son Bill, who was, like them, a deeply kind and gentle soul. She was not particularly good at managing a household and perhaps there is a lesson there. If you want to know what was important to her, take a look at her daughter, my best friend, Lisa.
Lisa Dempster
Oh you sweetie, I so love you!
Lisa
Leah Ewasick
It’s a bit like a Faery tale – how I was reacquainted with Lyn T. Jackson after forty some years. It will be forever etched into my memory. Here I was, returning to school full time to fulfill a dream of a degree in design. I was the most senior in my class with the exception of one part time student – You guessed it! It was Lyn!
We had maybe 2-3 classes together over the 2 years. Didn’t matter what I said or did, I seemed to rub her the wrong way.
In one of my final classes, we were asked to fill in a profile for the Prof
which were to be piled on my desk during class. Lyn’s ended up on top.
The first question was one’s birthplace. Believe me it wasn’t intentional but I noticed the word STRATFORD. Given that it’s my hometown, I began wondering whether Lyn knew either of my parents. Dare I ask the question? However, by the end of class, a project assignment found us partnered together, along with one other, so I threw caution to the wind & asked. Her reply was a curt – I don’t think so.
That night when Lyn called to arrange meeting for lunch, I thought it was to discuss our project.
Little did I know! She started our meet by asking me if I had a sister. I said 2. One older, one younger plus a baby brother was my reply. Lyn asked my older sister’s name. I answered “Brenda Jane”. She paused & said “I don’t know how else to say this, but I think I’m your godmother!! You could have knocked me over with a feather.
Turned out to be true!!
One of my greatest joys was bringing Lyn & my mother Dorraine Alberta McFarlane Ewasick together for a long weekend at our home! I’ve never seen two gals commune like that in my lifetime. They had 40 years to catch up on, after all. Meanwhile, I stepped back & kept the food & wine flowing.
Lyn became & remained a true friend. We talked long & hard whenever together & I was always struck by her fierce pride of you Lisa, her family & friends. She truly was a Lioness!
But to me, she will always remain my Faery Godmother, Lyn T. Jackson.
May you Rest In Peace
All my love
Susan Leah Ewasick
Lisa Dempster
Aw, thank you so much for taking the time to share that story, Leah!
She was sooooo proud of you and really tickled about finding her “goddaughter“ again. She had difficulty maintaining contact with people, but her best heart kept everyone front and centre.
If I come across the photos of you as a baby, I’ll scan them for you. She has shown them to me in the past.
Michael Perley-Robertson
I will never forget Lyn’s elegance, her sense of style, her witty sense of humor, her infectious laugh and her joy of life on her own terms.
It was a great honor for me to be a small part of Lyn’s amazing life.
Most importantly, I will forever cherish the long friendship we shared for over fifty years and I will deeply miss our phone conversations.
I first met Lyn through her son Bill when we were both students at Ashbury College in Ottawa. Bill and I remained best friends until his passing.
I have such fond teenage memories when visiting Lyn in Montreal with Bill & Lisa.
Lyn would prepare amazing buckwheat pancakes with raspberries and whipped cream for breakfast which we devoured on the mornings after several late evenings!
I remember extraordinary evenings in Montreal engrossed in listening to Lyn’s CBC radio broadcast recordings with her adding personal anecdotes while she sipped martini’s.
Over the years we kept in touch and I was always so happy to be able to speak with her as recently as this past Christmas when we shared some laughs and reminisced. My wife Sue was fortunate to meet Lyn in Ottawa many years ago and she shares in offering her deepest condolences to Lisa and Lyn’s family.
Dear Lisa; I share in your profound sadness and deep loss and know that you were such a great comfort to your mum these past years. Lyn would often mention to me that she felt very supported by her loving daughter and she deeply appreciated all that you did for her for so many years.
With lots of love forever, PR
Michael & Sue Perley-Robertson
Lisa Dempster
Aw, thank you PR. You have been such a loyal and loving friend to her, she always lit up when you called and made sure to tell me.
Hugs, my old friend,
Lisa XO
Carla Stevens
Lisa. Jeff just told me about your mother. I just read the obit. She sure was beautiful and had an amazing life. Please accept my condolences. Hugs Carla.
Lisa Dempster
Oh, how sweet of you to say. Thank you, stay safe, Lisa.
Lisa Dempster
Just have to add these for posterity. Many kind thoughts have also been left on Lyn’s and my facebook pages. Here are a few:
Lloyd Robertson
Sincere condolences on the death of the warm, lovely & fascinating “Bunny”. One of her last comments to me read: “looks like you’re getting this TV thing down pat kiddo”
Claudia Kismatali
Lovely, classic and elegant woman, I will miss you a lot.
Sue Montgomery
I’m so sorry. She sounds like quite a woman! May all the great memories you have of her carry you through your grief.
Anne Colas
Mes très sincères condoléances Lisa. De tout cœur avec toi. Ta mère était une très belle femme avec beaucoup de talents
And many more.
Much love, everyone.
Lisa
Judith Kenigson (nee Bowra)
Lisa, you have been such a remarkable and loving daughter to your Mum, and I’m so sorry for your loss, while at the same time glad she is now free of her struggles.
Lyn, who we all called Joyce when we were little, was a very special cousin. I can remember so many family events and celebrations – I hope to find some photos for you when I get a chance. After we grew up, we lived far apart and weren’t in contact as often, but I still remember many interesting times together.
Here’s one wacky story for you: Ron and I and the two kidlets went to visit Lyn at her apartment in Toronto after returning from Manitoulin Island, and as we drove down into the parking garage, the garage door came down on our windshield and broke it out. We parked and went up to the apartment to greet Lyn, who wanted to make up for the disaster by feeding us. She hastily put a pizza in the oven, box and all, and of course it soon burst into flames, so she flung it off the (sixth floor) balcony! As the flames floated down to the ground, Lyn wisely stated that good and bad things all come in threes, so we should keep an eye out for the third thing. Sure enough, when we went down to the parking garage the next morning, the car had been broken into and our luggage stolen. That was the third thing! Undaunted (since the clothes were mostly scruffy vacation rags anyway) we all went back upstairs and had a good laugh. (And a beer, probably! ) After all, we were now guaranteed a good trip home because our “three bad things” were finally over!
I know Lyn went through a lot of trials at different times in her life but she was an exceptional woman who weathered the storms with strength, generosity and dignity, and I’m so glad you had these final years together. May she rest in peace and may you now rest, as well, knowing that you provided your Mum with wonderfully caring and loving “twilight years”. Sending you many virtual Hugs!
Lisa Dempster
Oh, that is such a Lyn story, thank you! I have lots of stories of burning food, but didn’t know about tossing it off the balcony, hahaha! I had forgotten about your poor car. I think that’s when Matthew stayed at my little flat for the night. What a crazy way to come home.
Love and hugs, LisaD XOXO
Janet Currie
Lisa – you have been such a loving and loyal child over all these years. This must a a time of really mixed emotions for you. Hard that she is gone but good that she is finally at peace. I have such a vivid memory of your mom taking a bunch of us to see Gandhi. She did seem larger-than-life even in that brief exposure. Thinking of you.
Janet
Lisa Dempster
Ha! That’s great! I have no recollection of that, but she did have a way of making an impression.
Thanks, Janet.
Love and hugs, Lisa XOXO
Sandra Ballantyne
Dear Lisa,
We send you our love. For all these years, you have been wildly true and gracious in daughterhood. Lyn was so vivid and vulnerable, and you really held one another with dignity. My life has been uplifted by Lyn’s gift to you of the Russian fur hat… what a remarkable vignette!!
Sandra, with Ibrahim, Khalil and Danna
Lisa Dempster
Oh, thank you, you sweetie. She was grander than grand and had a way of holding an audience.
You’ll have to retell the hat story to me someday from your perspective, my perspective was pretty skewed and I’ve blocked much of it out, chuckle. Love and hugs. Lisa