Obituary of Rita Grimshaw

We are sad to announce that Mary Rita Grimshaw passed peacefully in the early morning hours of October 21, 2021 at the age of 96.  Born January 14, 1925 in Toronto, Rita was the youngest of nine children of Walter and Sabina Pyman.  She was predeceased by her husband, Ross, and all eight of her siblings: Alice, Bernice, Teresa, Vincent, Lawrence, Thomas, Victoria and Edward.

At age 19, Rita was hired by British Security Coordination during WW2 and worked in New York City under Sir William Stephenson, a.k.a. ‘Intrepid’, decoding and rerouting secret codes.  After the war, Rita married F.O. Ross Grimshaw and had three daughters, Karen, Marie Linzon and Susan Levesque.  While raising her children, Rita was employed in many roles for various companies. 

Rita was loved by all and was a favourite aunt and grandma.  She will be sorely missed by her five grandchildren, Paul, Nicole, Duncan, John and Andrew, and eleven great grandchildren, Gabriel, Juliette, Léo, Brixton, Marlowe, Everett, Malcolm, Audrey, Aurora, Samantha and Annabelle.

A private service will be held.  In lieu of flowers, you may wish to make a donation to St. Michael’s Foundation (stmichaelsfoundation.com).  Condolences may be forwarded through www.humphreymiles.com.

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