Obituary of Leith Elku

LEITH WENDY ELKU (nee Ironside) Leith passed away unexpectedly at the age of 71 in Toronto on Wednesday, July 13, 2016. Leith was born to her proud parents, Alex and Isabelle Ironside on August 25, 1944 in St. Catharines, Ontario. From early childhood until the present she was especially fond of spending her summers at the family cottage on Mill Lake, at Parry Sound, Ontario. She was educated at Weston and Oakwood Collegiates in Toronto. Continuing her studies, she graduated from Ontario Teacher's College, and subsequently earned an Honours B.A. in Psychology at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. After graduation, she began teaching in the Toronto Elementary school system at Arlington Sr. Public School, and later worked with the federal government at Canada Immigration. Living her entire life in Toronto, her favourite hobbies included mainly physical activities, particularly swimming, running, bicycling and roller skating. She is survived by her daughter Jennifer, brother Sandy, niece Tatiana, grand niece Maya, nephews Tamalii and Alex, (and cousins Barbara Armstrong, Derek Ehrl, Susan Campbell, John Hall, Kathie Phipps, and James Lundy with whom she shared most of her summers "at the lake"). She was predeceased by her beloved parents Alex and Isabelle Ironside. She loved all animals, but was particularly fond of her two dogs, "Prince" and "Eddie". Special thanks, gratitude, and appreciation, are accorded to the exceptionally competent, capable, kind, and empathetic Doctors and Nurses at Toronto Western Hospital's Intensive Care Emergency Unit and the Medical-Surgical/Neurosurgical Intensive Care Unit, Pod 107. The family will receive friends at the HUMPHREY FUNERAL HOME A.W. MILES - NEWBIGGING CHAPEL, 1403 Bayview Avenue (south of Davisville Avenue) from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 17th and Monday, July 18th for visitation. A funeral service will be held in the chapel at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, July 19th. A reception to follow the service in the Rosedale Room. Interment will be at St. Philip's Anglican Church Cemetery (25 St. Phillips Road 416-247-5181). Condolences and memories may be forwarded through www.humphreymilesnewbigging.com.