EBANKS, Effie Estena Keene Ebanks - August 13, 1937 - September 20, 2024

Effie Estena Keene-Ebanks was born in Westmoreland, Jamaica, on August 13, 1937. She migrated to Canada in 1960. Her son, Derrick, was born in 1961. She worked at Levi Straus for twenty-five years. After taking early retirement she embarked on two exciting careers – usher at the Rogers Stadium and an extra in movies filmed in the Greater Toronto Area.

She was a faithful member at Sanctus Church in Ajax for over thirty years. She was a proud mother to her son Derrick and welcomed his wife, Nicola, as a daughter. She was a loving grandmother to her four grandchildren, Rachel, Erin, Arielle and Jordan, all of whom she was very proud.

She fought a good fight against cancer but died on September 20th. She has passed on to her glory and is now in the presence of her Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

TASKAS, Konstantinos 'Gus' Taskas - April 23, 1949 - September 13, 2024

CANE, Albert William Cane - December 15, 1932 - September 11, 2024

Peacefully on Wednesday, September 11th, 2024 at Fairview Lodge, Whitby, Albert W. Cane passed away. He will be lovely remembered by his wife of 70 years, June and their children Debbie (Peter), Brian (Caroline) and Glenn (Joanne). He was a proud and devoted grandfather to Kevin (Jess), Greg (Erica), Lindsay (Chris), Michael, Tim and Jamie-Lee (Jeremy). Also cherished his many great grandchildren Kaden, Bennett, John, Joey, Ava, Mya, Nathan and Charlie. Al had so many friends and admirers, he was a fun-loving dancing machine in his day and enjoyed woodworking and just having fun, may he rest in Peace.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, September 22nd, 2024 visit The Simple Alternative Pickering, 1057 Brock Road, Pickering at 12:00 pm followed by a memorial service. In lieu of flowers, family wishes donations to Alzheimer's Society or Heart and Stroke.

WALLS, Colleen Louise Costello Walls - April 4, 1974 - September 8, 2024

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Colleen Costello Walls, who left us surrounded by her loving family on September 8th, 2024. Born on April 4, 1974, to James and Lynne Costello, Colleen touched countless lives with her warmth, strength, and boundless love.

Colleen was a devoted mother to Christian (30), Madison (23), and Mia (15), and a cherished grandmother to three beautiful boys: Ryker (6), Taiden (2), and Wade (1 1/2 months). Her love and pride in her family were evident to all who knew her.

In addition to her role as a loving mother and grandmother, Colleen was a dedicated professional, having worked with the Ministry of Corrections with unwavering commitment. Her professional life was just one aspect of a vibrant and fulfilling existence. Colleen was an avid dancer, whose infectious laugh and radiant smile could light up any room.

Her generous spirit extended beyond her family to everyone who entered her life. She was a beloved sister, wife, daughter, and aunt, and her home was always open to those in need of a friend.

Colleen was known for her extraordinary strength and resilience, embodying a spirit that inspired those around her. Her presence will be deeply missed but fondly remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing her.

May her memory be a blessing and her legacy of love and joy continue to inspire us all. Visit at The Simple Alternative Pickering

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It is with broken hearts that my sister and I announce the final curtain call for our biggest and brightest star, Philip Williams.

On September 8th, 2024, unexpectedly but surrounded by family, we lost an amazing Dad and Zaide, the best big brother and brother-in-law, the funniest uncle and great-uncle, the most caring nephew and cousin, the most loyal and truest friend, the kindest little creature lover and a very talented Actor and Photographer amongst many other things. He was larger than life…too big for just a page, but I shall try.

Phil loved to fish. He used to take us out on his boat when we were kids. We would be bored after an hour, but he was happier than ever to sit out there for what seemed like forever, even when nothing was biting. He taught us everything we know about fishing and even shared his favourite spots on Sparrow Lake with us. He had quite a few.

Golf was another passion of his. He was very proud of the fact that he was the youngest member of the Golf Historical Society of Canada. When you didn’t know what to buy him for his birthday, Golf Town gift cards were a safe bet as he already had way too much tackle and fishing gear. Every year he participated in the Big Swing Annual Charity Golf Tournament to raise funds that help support Canadian entertainment professionals through The AFC.

Our dad was the funniest man we knew but he was very serious about his craft. He was an Actor by profession and by heart. He loved performing, whether it be on a stage, in front of a camera or in a sound booth behind a microphone voicing many of the cartoon characters we know and love. He appeared in the feature films: Tommy Boy, Good Will Hunting, Jason X, and John Q amongst others. Yes, we’re bragging because we know he wouldn’t.

He was humble, down to earth and extremely intelligent, often beating me at Wordle every morning and then Quordle and then Octordle just to hit the trifecta.

If there’s anything my sister and I can agree on it’s that our dad always showed up. He showed up for us every time. Skating practices and competitions, school events, birthdays, small celebrations, big celebrations, at 3am when the anxiety kicked in. He was there. He was there to cheer us on, lend a hand, give advice, celebrate, wipe our tears and most importantly to crack some jokes. He showed up for his family and he showed up for his friends, of which he had many. You could always count on him to show up…sometimes “fashionably late”, but show up nonetheless. He was consistent.

Phil was loved by everyone who knew him, well maybe except for the dog owners who let their dogs off leash to chase his squirrels away. I’m sure they could hear him muttering quietly under his breath …. or maybe not so quietly. He loved nature. He would go to the park almost every day (after Starbucks of course) to feed and talk to his “pets”. He could tell Nacho, Rambo and Patchy apart even though they all looked the same to us. He’d make friends with the chipmunks up north and gained the trust of a cardinal he named “little man." He often sent videos of “little man” eating his peanuts and would tell stories of the bush full of sparrows that would see him coming from down the block, our own Dr. Dolittle!

We could go on and on about how amazing our dad Phil was but if you knew him, you already know.
Go Leafs Go!!

The family will be sitting Shiva on Wednesday September 18 and Thursday September 19 from 6-10 at The Atrium, 650 Queens Quay West and would like to welcome anyone who knew him to come and share their stories of Phil. A celebration of life will follow in the next few weeks with more details to come.

In lieu of flowers, Phil would have loved for people who’d like to make a donation to make it to the Ontario Wildlife Foundation.

Forever in our hearts. Visit at The Simple Alternative Pickering

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THOMPSON, Seymour 'George' Thompson - June 8, 1936 - September 3, 2024

Seymour "George" Thompson, 88, passed away on September 3, 2024. Born and raised in Cascade, Jamaica, he was the beloved son of the late George and Josephine Thompson. Seymour was affectionately called "George" by his wife, Lurlene, who often referred to him as George Seymour Seymour.

Seymour met and married Lurlene Granville from St. Elizabeth, Jamaica, and together they raised three children. He was the proud father of two sons and a daughter and the devoted grandfather of 10 grandchildren. Seymour enjoyed working on old cars and was a dedicated employee of Greenspoon Demolition for many years.

He was one of ten siblings and is survived by two brothers. Seymour will be remembered by all his family.

A public visitation will take place on Friday, September 20, 2024, from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at The Simple Alternative - Pickering, 1057 Brock Road, Pickering, ON, Canada. The service will follow at 12:00 PM. Interment will be held at Duffin Meadows Cemetery, 2505 Brock Road North, Pickering, ON, at 2:00 PM.

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OLIVER, John David Oliver - July 27, 1942 - September 1, 2024

Surrounded by his loving family, John Oliver passed away peacefully on September 1, 2024. After a courageous two-year battle with Parkinson’s disease.

Born on July 27, 1942, John leaves behind a legacy of love. He will be deeply missed by his daughters, Liz and Karen (Art), as well as his grandson, Damian. His absence will also be felt by his extended family and friends.

John’s family would like to express their sincere gratitude to the dedicated staff at Centenary Health and Providence Centre for their compassionate care during his illness. In honor of John’s memory, donations can be made to the Parkinson’s Foundation, the Canadian Cancer Society, or the Love Scarborough Foundation.

A celebration of John’s life will be held on September 19, 2024, from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM at The Simple Alternative – Pickering.

Let us come together to honor John’s life and cherish the beautiful memories he leaves behind.

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