Elizabeth Scott

Obituary

Elizabeth passed away on June 5, 2025, at Sunnybrook Hospital. She was treated there with dignity, compassion, love and wonderful care by the nursing staff and doctors. Pre-deceased by her husband Bill, she leaves behind her children: Susan (Terry) and grandsons Scott (deceased), Mike (Sophie), with great-grandson Mason, and Greg (Tiana); Will (Mary Jo) and grandsons Graeme (Kayla) and Aidan (Anya, fiancée); John (Lindsay) and granddaughters Sarah, Cate and Taylor; and Dave. She will be remembered by her extended family of many cousins, nephews, nieces and their children. As well, her many friends from Brushwood Court, her home base for many years.

She will be missed in Southampton, her source of regeneration in her last few, difficult years and the previous 50 plus years of summer paradise. Tennis was her great joy there; not only through playing a good game but in the many lasting friendships she cultivated. Most of all, her greatest pleasure was meeting and talking to complete strangers, learning about their lives and telling them about her life and family.

Elizabeth was born and raised by her parents, Alan (always known as Pete) and Isabelle, in Toronto with her sister Helen (deceased) and brother George (deceased), not far away from their home church of Grace Church on-the-Hill, where her funeral will be held. Her early years were spent at Branksome Hall Girls School where she excelled in many sports. But this is also where the true path of her life would start. The thought of art as a career started to coalesce there which led to her attending Ontario College of Art and Design (1950 – 1954) in Toronto. This was a wonderful time for her as her artist’s skills flourished, as well as interreacting with like-minded students, right in her element. She often spoke of her times there even after many years had passed, every so often she would go through her portfolio from OCAD with friends and family. No matter the number of times they had seen them, both sides were always excited to see them anew. After graduation she had several jobs doing graphic arts, some of that art she still had. Her goals soon changed after reconnecting with a childhood neighbour, Bill Scott, on a bus returning from work. Marriage followed in 1955. Children were next and, as was the norm back then, she took a detour as housewife and mother to the growing brood that included a stream of Collies (the last of which, Bentley, was her beloved companion after her husband passed away in 1997). Art was still part of her even though it was put out hold, just under the surface. After the children grew and were able to take care of themselves after school, she returned to work part time: at Bayview Glen as a teaching assistant and Shertle Art Gallery. She found both very rewarding.

As time slid by covering the years, she was able to return to her art. There was sketching, painting and brass rubbings. Later, photography excited her as she captured sunsets in Southampton, flowers, birds and anything that attracted her heart. She was able to capture the essence of the subject of the picture, not just the image itself. Even with the onset of Macular Degeneration in later years, which halted her tennis games, the photography was still a great pleasure. So much so that she regularly needed to purge her I Pad’s memory for more space – this was a difficult task for her, not technically but which picture didn’t quite live up to her vision of what it should be.

Her insight on life, and her joy of life will be missed by many. She was loved by all who knew her.

A visitation will be held at the Morley Bedford Funeral Home, 159 Eglinton Avenue West, Toronto, on Wednesday, June 18 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Her funeral will be at Grace Church on-the-Hill, 300 Lonsdale Road, on Thursday, June 19 at 11:00 a.m. Livestream link to the service: https://www.gracechurchonthehill.ca/elizabeth-scott

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Ontario College of Art and Design, or a charity of your choice to be given in her remembrance.

“To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die “ Thomas Campbell