Beatrice Maud Warburton

Today I share with you the passing of my mother, Beatrice. On Saturday May 16, 2026, she died peacefully at the age of 81 years old surrounded by love.

After a brief illness, she moved through the last six months of her life with the soul of a thoughtful sage, the acceptance of a stoic, and the gratitude of one who understood too well that nothing is guaranteed.

When memory was present, my mother counselled her family and caregivers with the wisdom of her years. When memory failed, she resorted to humour; when cognition failed, she surrendered to silence and finally, to that everlasting sleep.

My mother moved through life with a fierce work ethic and a willingness to go ever forward. As the fourth child of five siblings, she was one of many immigrants who left Jamaica in the mid-sixties for a better life elsewhere. Her courage and assistance paved the way for many in our family to have greater opportunities in Canada.

She was a seamstress by occupation, and her keen eye and meticulous obsession for detail left its mark on my enduring love for fashion. I still cherish pieces of her handiwork. My mother loved to cook and garden, and her years in retirement, divided between Jamaica and Canada, allowed her to indulge in both. Jamaica was a welcome respite from the cold Canadian winters, and she spent several years there, which included her late husband, Floyd.

As my family and friends say goodbye, what will be remembered? We will remember her request that we help others where we can and to live our lives fully with joy because it is often short. We will remember her pleas not to dwell on the past, for we cannot change it. We will reflect on her words and her courage in the face of her impending death when she told me, “I am not afraid. I will be at peace when it comes.” Rest well, Mom — may peace, love, and harmony find you where you are.

She will be greatly missed by her daughter Marcia Warburton, her nephew Carlus Powell and his wife Karen, and great-niece and great-nephew, Bella and Ethan.

To her memory, a celebration of life will be planned at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, if you wish, please make a donation to the University Health Network (UHN Foundation) or Hospice Vaughan. We thank you.

Click here to donate to University Health Network (UHN Foundation) 

Click here to donate to Hospice Vaughan.