Born January 11, 1933, Winnipeg, Manitoba. Died March 23, 2022, Toronto, Ontario. Growing up in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Gail was the youngest child of Mr. and Mrs. G. Florance. Being the daughter of a fruit and vegetable distributor began her lifelong love of growing things. She studied History and English, graduating from the University of Manitoba, continuing her lifelong love of literature and history including studies at the University of Toronto. She also studied and practiced the art of bookbinding and the Italian language. After Winnipeg, she lived briefly in Vancouver and Ottawa before settling in Toronto. She taught various English topics and throughout her working life at George Brown College and the Adult Learning Centre she was in contact with students from every part of the world and full of admiration for the journeys that had brought them to Canada. She brought her considerable resources to making English a rich second language for her students. Her great loves were poetry, literature, music, gardening, and travel. She travelled extensively but returned often to Italy. It was her spiritual homeland along with her beautiful garden in Toronto where friends and relatives often visited and gathered. Beloved mother of Clair and Nicola Joy, devoted grandmother of Tessa and Phillip Jobin-Joy, her wonderful company, individuality, aesthetic appreciation and knowledge will be also be greatly missed by her loving nieces and nephews and treasured friends.