Obituary of Elizabeth Miriam Finlay

FINLAY, Elizabeth Miriam February 11, 1951 - February 8, 2005. Elizabeth (Liz) Miriam Finlay died peacefully on Tuesday, February 8, 2005 at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, after a gallant 14 year battle with abdominal cancer. She was born in Brisbane, Australia, the fourth of six children. Liz was a unique and special person, always positive and always caring more about others than herself. She was a beautiful person in both appearance and nature. Her smile and vivaciousness lit up every room she entered and her positive attitude influenced many people. She attended school in Brisbane, Sydney and Cooma, Australia. Liz and her sister Thea were the two fastest female sprinters in Australia leading up to the 1968 Mexico City Olympic games, but due to injuries and family commitments, both were forced to withdraw from the Olympic team. Liz became active in athletics again in the early 1990�s, winning medals in the Victoria Masters games in sprinting, javelin, shot put and discus. Her athletic career culminated with a sprinting medal at the World Masters games in Tokyo in 1992. Besides being a world-class athlete, she had a successful modeling career, operated finishing schools in Australia and England and concluded her career as a marketing manager. She is survived and will be sorely missed by loving husband John, cherished daughters Ellie and Lisa (and her husband Morris), grandson Max, mother Viola and stepfather Wal, brothers Mike, Paul and Tony and sisters Thea and Mary, as well as a large and caring extended family. Liz was predeceased by her father, John Thomas. The family will receive friends at the HUMPHREY FUNERAL HOME - A.W. MILES CHAPEL, 1403 Bayview Avenue (south of Eglinton Avenue East), from 7-9 p.m. on Wednesday, February 9th. A service will be held in the chapel on Thursday, February 10th at 3 o�clock. If desired, donations to Sunnybrook & Women�s Foundation, in memory of Elizabeth Finlay, 2075 Bayview Avenue, Toronto M4N 3M5 would be appreciated. Humphrey Funeral Home A.W. Miles Chapel 416-487-4523