In memory of
Phyllis Opal MacLauchlan
March 25, 1935 - April 4, 2025
Phyllis Opal MacLauchlan
March 25, 1935 – April 4, 2025
With great sadness, we announce the death of Phyllis MacLauchlan of Toronto, Ontario, and originally from Campbellton, New Brunswick.
Phyllis caught the eye of her beloved husband Donald when she was in Grade 9, and they would have celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary this spring. She was the proud mother to daughter Jill (Kevin Parks) and son Peter (Mary Jane Dykeman), who blessed them with grandchildren, Colin and Grace MacLauchlan. She spent her early years in Campbellton with her parents, Jack and Joyce LeFurgey, and twin sisters Karen Pearce and Carol Boham.
Phyllis and Don left Campbellton in the spring of 1955, following their wedding and Don’s graduation from Queen’s University Engineering. Don was recruited while at Queen’s to begin his illustrious career with Esso/Exxon in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, while Phyllis worked with an accounting firm until Jill’s arrival. They then moved to Sarnia, Ontario, where Peter was born. The real adventure began as the family boarded a 1965 flight to Aruba, the happy island they called home for many years (with a brief detour to New Jersey then back to their home in Seroe Colorado, Aruba). On their return to Canada in the early ‘70s, they arrived in Edmonton, Alberta, with an Aruban dog and two Siamese cats, swapping +30 degrees for -30 degrees in a single day. Aruba remained their special place, spending vacations and Christmases and sharing their pride in the island with family and close friends for over three decades.
By the early ‘90s, travel was Phyllis’s priority, in addition to her mastery of tennis and golf at Donalda Club. She had completed formal credentials as a travel agent and threw her expertise and energies into planning their own extensive and extraordinary retirement travel to far flung destinations: North America, the Caribbean, South America, Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and even Antarctica! In their later years, ever the avid golfers and sun seekers, Phyllis and Don spent many winters in Naples, Florida, with other Esso retirees and their Campbellton friends and family.
On March 25th, 2025, Phyllis celebrated a milestone birthday with warm greetings from around the globe in person, via mail and email. It was a testament to her warmth and vitality and a celebration of so many cherished memories. She enjoyed being fệted with bubbles, cake, and gifts at a lovely Donalda Club luncheon, with family and close friend Jeanette. Phyllis always knew when to leave a party, and a few days later had a quiet, graceful exit with family by her side.
The family would like to extend their immense gratitude to their parents’ personal caregivers especially Pauline, the staff at Amica, and medical staff at NYGH. Any donations in Phyllis’s memory can be made to North Toronto Cat Rescue (northtorontocatrescue.com) or to a charity of your choice.
March 25, 1935 – April 4, 2025
With great sadness, we announce the death of Phyllis MacLauchlan of Toronto, Ontario, and originally from Campbellton, New Brunswick.
Phyllis caught the eye of her beloved husband Donald when she was in Grade 9, and they would have celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary this spring. She was the proud mother to daughter Jill (Kevin Parks) and son Peter (Mary Jane Dykeman), who blessed them with grandchildren, Colin and Grace MacLauchlan. She spent her early years in Campbellton with her parents, Jack and Joyce LeFurgey, and twin sisters Karen Pearce and Carol Boham.
Phyllis and Don left Campbellton in the spring of 1955, following their wedding and Don’s graduation from Queen’s University Engineering. Don was recruited while at Queen’s to begin his illustrious career with Esso/Exxon in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, while Phyllis worked with an accounting firm until Jill’s arrival. They then moved to Sarnia, Ontario, where Peter was born. The real adventure began as the family boarded a 1965 flight to Aruba, the happy island they called home for many years (with a brief detour to New Jersey then back to their home in Seroe Colorado, Aruba). On their return to Canada in the early ‘70s, they arrived in Edmonton, Alberta, with an Aruban dog and two Siamese cats, swapping +30 degrees for -30 degrees in a single day. Aruba remained their special place, spending vacations and Christmases and sharing their pride in the island with family and close friends for over three decades.
By the early ‘90s, travel was Phyllis’s priority, in addition to her mastery of tennis and golf at Donalda Club. She had completed formal credentials as a travel agent and threw her expertise and energies into planning their own extensive and extraordinary retirement travel to far flung destinations: North America, the Caribbean, South America, Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and even Antarctica! In their later years, ever the avid golfers and sun seekers, Phyllis and Don spent many winters in Naples, Florida, with other Esso retirees and their Campbellton friends and family.
On March 25th, 2025, Phyllis celebrated a milestone birthday with warm greetings from around the globe in person, via mail and email. It was a testament to her warmth and vitality and a celebration of so many cherished memories. She enjoyed being fệted with bubbles, cake, and gifts at a lovely Donalda Club luncheon, with family and close friend Jeanette. Phyllis always knew when to leave a party, and a few days later had a quiet, graceful exit with family by her side.
The family would like to extend their immense gratitude to their parents’ personal caregivers especially Pauline, the staff at Amica, and medical staff at NYGH. Any donations in Phyllis’s memory can be made to North Toronto Cat Rescue (northtorontocatrescue.com) or to a charity of your choice.