‘Andrighetti was happiest when he was tending to his vegetable garden, fruit trees and flowers, chopping wood, fishing, making wine and aging cheese’

GARY ABBOTT 1933 — 2022

It was time spent at the family cottage on Lake Baptiste that Abbott treasured most, with quiet mornings sipping tea on the deck, marvelling at his hummingbirds and other avian friends. He loved evenings on the lake, fishing and listening to the call of the loons. Abbott was a dedicated educator, with a career spanning 38 years. Beginning as principal of a two-room schoolhouse in Marlbank, Ont., and retiring as principal of Westway Junior School in Etobicoke in 1990.

GIOVANNI ANDRIGHETTI 1931 — 2022

Andrighetti lived by the two golden rules instilled in him by his father: be kind and be honest. At 22, he entered the military and learned the discipline and work ethic that would define his life. On Jan. 31, 1955, Andrighetti arrived at Pier 21 in Halifax from Italy and made his way to Toronto. He worked as a bulldozer operator in often dangerous and grueling conditions to support his family. In his retirement, he never grasped the concept of rest. He was happiest when he was tending to his vegetable garden, fruit trees and flowers, chopping wood, fishing, making wine and aging cheese. He enjoyed simple things; a plate of polenta with Piave cheese was enough to satisfy him.

ISABEL BRECHIN MCFARLANE 1924 — 2022

McFarlane died with her family singing by her side. Growing up in Montreal, she was the first in her family to attend university. She worked as a legal secretary until the birth of her first child. January 1953 saw a move to Cochrane, where her growing family enjoyed living until moving to Toronto on Halloween of 1959. McFarlane embraced life in the city from then on. She was a sharp and insightful reader and a vibrant woman with a straightforward manner and a wonderful sense of humour. She was generous in her support of the arts, animal welfare and equality for all.