It is with sadness that we announce the passing of Elsie (Lessia) Parks (nee Pylot), 27 January 2022, in her 81st year, due to pneumonia, complications of pancreatic cancer. Lessia is greatly missed by her family; her husband of 54 years, John, son, Rodney, and his wife, Susanne, and her daughter, Jennifer Lynn Fulks, her husband, Ashley, and grandson, Neo.

Lessia was born in Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan on January 14, 1941. She was the daughter of Alex and Rose Pylot (predeceased) of Meadow Lake Saskatchewan, with siblings Michael (Mike), Lilly (predeceased) and William (predeceased) and many nieces and nephews.

Lessia completed her Teacher’s College and Bachelor of Arts at the University of Saskatchewan and taught primary school and library in West Vancouver, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, and London, Ontario before beginning a career in residential Real Estate in North Delta and also while moving with John and family from Victoria, B.C. to Mississauga, Ontario.

Career was important to Lessia, but she was a wife, mother, and homebuilder at heart. She loved her gardens and would select each plant in the spring for its unique character to create unity and beauty in her garden. Lessia’s love of her garden was only surpassed by her love of her children and husband. She wanted to assure that her children had every opportunity to grow in the skills that piano, dancing, skating, hockey, soccer, and summer camp could give them. To her husband, Lessia was a life-long partner, his rock and, at times, his mentor in being the best person that he could be.

As her children matured, Lessia began to focus a good part of her life and energy onto her love of sports, golf, and curling. She celebrated her 4th hole-in-one by getting a classy ankle tattoo of a martini glass with four olives. Lessia was described by her teammates and opponents as a smart, fierce competitor, and someone who never gave up, even in the 6th end of a curling game when down 6 points. They also saw that she was a witty and classy lady full of fun. Lessia competed with her husband John, and teammates, Ted, and Mona Bassett, in the Ontario Provincial Senior curling finals in Dundas Valley in 2005.

Lessia loved to travel as she and John approached retirement and tried to balance her involvement in golf and curling with winter snow birding in Florida, Costa Rica and Palm Springs, California. She also visited Australia, Tuscany, Venice, the Amalfi Coast and the Greek Islands, Uluru, Australia and New Zealand fiord areas were amongst her favorites. Missing due to COVID 19 was a planned trip to St. Petersburg with a side trip into the Ukraine, where her dad was born and lived before immigrating to Canada in 1921. A special treat was Paris, a Villa in St. Remy, Provence, France on her 50th wedding anniversary with John, Rod & Susie, Jenn, Ash and Neo.

The family would like to thank Dr. Michael Chambers, Dr. Jennifer Knox, and the staff OF Princess Margaret Hospital, and particularly the ICU doctors and nurses of Mount Sinai who cared so much about their patient and the family in assisting us through the difficult disease and dying process.

Funeral arrangements were through Glen Oaks Funeral Homes and Cemetery in Oakville, Ontario.  A celebration of life is planned for later in the spring at one of Lessia favorite sporting location to remember and share stories about Lessia. In lieu of flowers, if you wish, the family suggest donations to Princess Margaret Hospital, Pancreatic Cancer Institute, or a special charity of your choice.

• Date : 2022-01-27