It is with the deepest sadness we announce the death of Halina Kantor which occurred November 1, 2023, at the Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, Ontario.
Halina was born in Warsaw, Poland to Jona and Elizabeth (Flutsztein) Joelson on June 11, 1930. She lived in Miedzeszyn, Poland, then Vilno, Lithuania before moving to the United States in 1941, where she lived in New York, Pennsylvania, and Georgia before immigrating to Toronto, Canada in 1969. Halina worked with the Toronto Recreation Department for many years until her retirement.
Halina was an early member of the Eastern Cooperative Recreation School, a nonprofit organization founded in 1940 “ to provide cooperative recreation as a way to rest and refresh, to add richness and depth to living, and to aid the development of communities and humanity at large.” Halina had a great influence on many people through this school and rolled her love of recreation into a career. It became a way of life. Whenever there were friends or family gatherings there was always a game involved. This love of games has been passed down through her family.
She is survived by her daughter-in-law, Debora Kantor, Cambridge Narrows, NB; her grandchildren, Robin LeRoy; Rothesay NB; Joshua Kantor (Ann Harrison) Ottawa ON; Ivan Kantor (Bonnie DeBaets) Montreal QC; five great-grandchildren Brynne, Jordan, Reid, Ollie, and Hyeonu; and cousin, Ilona Gruda and her family in Montreal.
Besides her parents, she is predeceased by her husband Seymour; son, David, and daughter, Miriam.
A most heartfelt thank you to all her caregivers and special friends and neighbors, John and Brenda Lewsen, who all enabled Halina to stay in her home for the last several years.
Cremation has taken place and a Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday January 6, 2024 from 2-4 p.m. at the Applewood Shaver Heritage House at 450 The West Mall, Toronto, Ontario.
Donations in Halina’s memory may be given to Eastern Cooperative Recreation School (ECRS.org/donate), The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation ( https://thepmcf.ca), Canadian Civil Liberties (https://ccla.org/), Plan Canada (plancanada.ca) or the charity of the donor’s choice.