WALCOTT, Jean Lydia (nee de Souza) - (5 January, 1935 – 2 November, 2020)
Jean Lydia Walcott, nee de Souza, born 5 January 1935 in St. James, Trinidad.
She was the 5th child of Henry de Souza (1901-1939) and Iris de Souza (nee Simmons) (died 1972). After her father’s death in 1939, at age 5, Jean went to live with her godparents, Roy and Maize Eadie, in Belmont, Trinidad. Maize had been born and raised in Martinique and spoke French fluently. Jean spoke both French and English fluently as a child.
At age 11, Jean won a scholarship to St. Joseph’s Convent in Port of Spain. She attended Teacher’s Training College (St. Joseph’s Convent), graduating about 1955.
She taught school (Providence Intermediate School, Port of Spain). In 1965 she moved to Hamilton where she taught school briefly. In Sept 1966, she moved to Toronto, living in an apartment on Thorncliffe Drive with her sister Gloria. Jean taught at St. William School at the time and in 1967 she began part time studies at York University. She graduated from Glendon College, York University with a Master of Arts in Sociology in 1970.
In April 1970, she married Robert Walcott at St. Michael’s Cathedral, Toronto, and moved to Queens, NY. Jean returned to Toronto in fall 1970, where her daughter Chalette was born in October. They returned to New York and after some time they returned to Toronto and lived with her sister Gloria and her children. After a few years, Jean purchased a home on Donmore Ave., East York. Upon Jean’s return to Toronto, she returned to Metropolitan Separate School Board. Jean will be fondly remembered by so many students, as she taught at various schools in the Metropolitan Separate School Board/Toronto Catholic District School Board, until she retired in 1996.
In 1997, she joined the Wishing Well Lions Club, where she was very active both at local and Provincial levels, holding many executive posts through her distinguished service. Jean loved to travel, and she took every opportunity to see the world. She never missed an opportunity to see family wherever they were in the world - the Caribbean, Europe, and Africa. She jumped at the chance to travel to International Lions Conventions to represent Canada, whenever she could.
She will be missed by her daughter Chalette, son-in law Neil and her grandchildren Nathaniel and Genevieve. She is survived by her sister Marjorie, her niece June and nephews Christopher and Henry. She is also survived by many beloved nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, and god-children.
She was truly blessed to be loved and cherished by all.
Arrangements with Paul O'Connor funeral home, Scarborough.
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