August 26, 1926 – September 29, 2024
Phyllis Rose Abbott passed away on September 29, 2024 at 98 years of age. She was born in Radisson, Saskatchewan to Clement and Nora Abbott, the first of 4 children. She is predeceased by her husband Grant Tomalty, her second husband Douglas Boyd, and by her brother William Abbott and sister Roberta Abbott. She is survived by her brother George Abbott, her four children: Alan, Cheryl (Francis), David (Lorraine) and Glenn (Robin). She leaves her grandchildren: Lane (Matt), Adam (Nellie), Jennifer (James), Michael, and Louise, and her great grandchildren: Clayton (CJ), Charleston, Wesley, Molly, Aveya and Bearix.
Phyllis graduated as a Registered Nurse from St. Paul’s Hospital in Saskatoon, SK in 1948. She won a scholarship from the St. Paul’s Medical Staff for best nursing care and chose to begin her nursing career at Montreal Children’s Hospital. On a weekend visit to the small town of Brownsburg, Quebec with a nurse friend, Phyllis was introduced to the Tomalty family. Thus, the romance between Phyllis and Grant began and they were married in 1950. They lived the next few decades in Brownsburg raising their 4 children. Phyllis worked part-time in local hospitals and then in the local government community clinic known in Quebec as CLSC, where she specialized in infant care (a joy in her life), while a volunteer for the CNIB, until her retirement.
She spent many joyous years at her cottage on Lac Louisa, QC with friends and family. Her move to an assisted living facility in Burnaby, BC in 2015 allowed her to spend her last years close to her daughter, Cheryl. Phyllis moved into long-term care in 2022 at Cascade Gardens in Burnaby, where she had compassionate care as her mobility, eyesight (darn that age-related macular degeneration), and cognitive abilities declined.
Phyllis (a.k.a. Mom, Mrs. T., Grandma, and Auntie Phyl) and her active, fun-loving spirit will always be remembered in our hearts as summer baby-sitter, hockey Mom (& Stanley Cup lover), sometime golfer, photo-taker (by the thousands), sometime woodworker, back-swimmer in Louisa (with ankle-noodle), amazing quilter, knitter (giver of gifts with attached knitting needles to finish the job), yellow Cricket kayaker, gazebo-lounger, Canada Day strawberry/Jello cake baker, campfire lover, Rideau Canal ice- skater, and keeper of everything (sometime garbage ‘recycler’ on Moseley Road)! We will carry on hoarding our memories of you.
Phyllis was an active member of the Royal Canadian Legion (Branch 71) in Brownsburg and was an avid curler, playing many mixed games at the Brownsburg Curling Club and at out- of- town rinks. She also taught curling to all age groups.
She always had a positive outlook on life and loved to learn new activities such as kayaking, skiing, and bowling. She eagerly took computer courses and learned how to use an iPad in her eighties! She gave up doing real jig-saw puzzles, preferring on-line puzzles, and spent ample time e-mailing family and friends who had moved away.
Phyllis was a ‘feisty’ woman with a mind of her own, yet remained polite and appreciative to those who visited her. She loved to travel, visiting family in Europe, and despite her mobility, eyesight, and hearing issues in her late 80’s and early 90’s, she cruised to Alaska, the Mexican Riviera, and the Mediterranean, as well as visited with family in Arizona, Calgary, Saskatchewan, B.C., and Ottawa.
As Phyllis slowly declined physically over the past few years and even as her cognitive decline progressed, she still reflected back over the years and in conclusion, said, “Well, I’ve had a good life!” in a spirit of full thanksgiving.
Interment will take place at the Ogdensburg Cemetery in Quebec and a celebration of life in spring/summer 2025 with family and friends is to be announced.