“If your nose runs and your feet smell, you’re built upside down”. A wacky yet fairly astute observation from a beautiful guy who lived his life inside out and upside down but always with compassion.

On Friday, February 1, 2019 at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto, Mike “Mikey” Lorriman passed away surrounded by family, love and light.

Mike was born in Windsor, ON, on February 25, 1950. Early in his life, Mike’s parents (Hugh and Helen Lorriman) moved the family to Montreal where he spent most of his childhood before settling in Toronto for his teenage years. A lover of nature and the outdoors, he enjoyed spending time at the family cottage in The Laurentians where he and his brothers would relish a cool dip in the lake after a hard day of work chopping wood or clearing brush. In high school, at Lawrence Park Collegiate, he excelled in sports and was on the football team and enjoyed skiing.

Trent University took Mike to Peterborough, where he met Arlene Cedilnik while both working at the Trent Inn. Mike and Arlene married and had two daughters, Amy and Kate. It was also in
Peterborough, while working at The Bookstore, that he discovered his lifelong love of books. Mike would always speak of books in a wistful way, as if they were his friends and allies in this life adventure of his and looked after each one with exacting care. First editions and antique or unique books held a special place in his heart and until the last few weeks of his life he could be found
regularly combing the racks of markets, random book stores and second hand stores searching for a diamond in the rough. He had an uncanny ability to absorb and then recall much of the interesting information he read in his books…and he read voraciously!

Mike held several different jobs, including a handyman (“Mike the Handyman” in fact), a trapper (it wasn’t unusual to hear scratching sounds coming from a trap in the back of his truck of a critter being lovingly relocated to a more suitable park habitat), a superintendent at an apartment building and finally, up until retirement, many years in the Lumber Yard at Home Depot.

A lover of music, he played piano as a child then later in life picked up the guitar and harmonica, which he would play energetically while stomping his foot and side smiling. You’d regularly hear jazz and blues belting out from his vinyl record player (he had an extensive record collection) or perhaps even Honkey Tonk if he was in the mood.

Although all this information is interesting and wonderful, what you really should know is who Mike was as a person. His warm, bright soul infused all who met him with a glow of love and kindness. He lived his life with an unimaginable wholeheartedness that was infectious. If you were in his presence you were likely smiling. He told “Dad jokes”, made up complicated puns and generally made you giggle, in spite of yourself. He had a very unique sense of humour, sometimes baffling, the punch-line might hit you much later…or sometimes not at all, but his authentic joy at telling you the joke and jolly delivery would be enough to make anyone crack a grin. That twinkle in his eye was a carefree, child-like perspective Mike had which inevitably explains his pure and authentic connection with his grandkids.

He made you feel seen. Every person he encountered responded to him. He was disarming, gentleand friendly. And he was kind; genuinely, authentically kind. If you wanted to make Mike happy, let him do something for you: help you move house, pick you up from the airport/a party/the bus stop, lend you money, take you to dinner, feed your cat/dog/guinea pig, water your plants, buy you a beer or just listen quietly to your woes. He exuded generosity and found joy in helping others, every day of his life.

He is sorely missed by his daughters Amy and Kate, his grandchildren Sophie, Sebastian, Oliver and Willem, his friend and ex-spouse Arlene and her family, sons-in-law Shane and Chris, brothers John and David, sister-in-law Pat, niece and nephew Anne-Marie (Chris) and Fraser, his many friends, neighbours and acquaintances and all his newly found family. Mike’s family would like to thank the wonderful service, care and compassion provided by Eldercare Home Health.

The silvery strands of love and kindness that connected us all to Mike will continue to bring us together with warmth, affection, tenderness and friendship.

Donations

If you wish to remember Mike, please consider donating to your favourite charity in his honour.

Celebration of Life
A celebration of Mike’s life will be held in Toronto in the spring. Details will be forthcoming closer to the date. If you wish to be notified by email of the details, please contact:
celebrate.mikel@gmail.com

ARIMA, Masayoshi Allan (Mush) died unexpectedly yet peacefully in Toronto on Sunday, January 13, 2019 at the ripe old age of 87.

Mush is survived by his wife Vi (nee Kai) of 58 years. He will be sadly missed by his sons Dwayne (Liane) and Keith (debi), granddaughters Kimiko and Asha and elder siblings Tak (Zen), Tosh (Koji) and Yonzie (Daisy). He leaves behind many relatives and friends to mourn his passing.

Mush was born in Marpole, British Columbia to Itaro and Samé Arima. He attended David Lloyd George Elementary School and experienced being removed from the school at the start of the war. His family was relocated to a Japanese internment camp. This later became a very passionate topic he was inspired to share with all generations, especially the youth. After the war, Hamilton, Ontario became his home where his independence took root. He attended F. R. Close Technical College where an apprenticeship in typography became a 40-year career at Cooper & Beatty. In his retirement his main joys were creating many heartfelt greeting cards on his beloved Mac and expanding his skills in the kitchen.

Mush requested a private cremation without any funeral service. It was his wish that his family and friends meet up at a local pub to share memories, laughs, and good times.

Reginald Rex Wallace “Rex” Buckle passed away January 3^rd, 2019 at his home in Toronto, ON at the age of 79. Rex was born on September 25^th, 1939 in Vancouver, BC. He grew up in Mission, BC and graduated high school in 1956 at the age of 16. He continued his scholarly ways by studying Film & Theatre at the University of British Columbia, the University of California, Berkley and the University of Toronto. He taught high school in Salmon Arm and later at the University of Guelph. He eventually moved to Toronto where he was involved in his passion, theatre, as a director, administrator and board member. Rex loved Toronto and all the culture and diversity it had to offer. When he needed a quieter pace, he would escape to his family cabin at Lindell Beach, and in the most recent years, to Invermere, BC located in the Rocky Mountains. Rex will be missed by so many, including past students and peers, all those he worked with in the theatre industry, many special friends and of course his family. Rex is survived by his brothers, Ted (Laura) and Ron (Susie) Buckle, his nephews, Chad (Krissy), Josh (Veronika) and Joe (Jennifer) Buckle, Dan (Annika) Buckle, Ahren (Cynthia) Engelbracht, his niece, Megan (Jeff) Hubert, as well as many great nephews and nieces. He is pre-deceased by his parents, Percy and Eleanor Buckle and his sister, Susan Engelbracht. Rex did not wish to have a funeral and would like to have his ashes spread in the Rocky Mountains, a place that brought him much joy.

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Josephina (Josie) Toporoski (nee den Ouden) on November 1, 2018 at age 72. She is survived by her sons Gary (Julie Zikman) and Marty (Christina Wilcott) and her grandchildren Jesse, Mazzy, Emerson and Marlo. Josie is predeceased by her parents Fred and Gertruda den Ouden of Alliston, and brother John. Mourning her loss are brother Alphonse (Judy), sisters Nancy Erhart and Trudy (Bob) MacKenzie, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Josie will be remembered as a selfless caregiver. As a mother she volunteered in all her boys’ activities and took on their education and betterment as her primary mission in life. For decades she worked in and out of the school system with students with special needs. Her greatest joys were in teaching others and in sharing her bright spirit with her community.

Grams loved her grandchildren as fiercely as she had her sons and doted on them whenever possible. Special packages in the mail for Emerson and Marlo would always be filed with her trademark happy faces, candy and photo albums. Weekend sleepovers for Jesse and Mazzy featured painting, box forts and outdoor fun no matter the weather.

Her love was felt by all those she cared for, even when she wasn’t with them in person, and her passing has left a hole that won’t easily be filled. The family would like to thank Justin Tunney for his friendship, support and the comfort he always provided to Josie. She will be missed dearly by him and by all who knew her.

Donations 

Please consider donating to Kerry’s place autism service in memory of Josie at: https://www.kerrysplace.org/support-us/in-memory/.