We are heartbroken to share the passing of our mother, Lynne Pickersgill on December 26, 2025. Kathleen “Lynne” Pickersgill was born in Edmonton on October 25, 1941, to parents Kathleen and William Douglas and raised in Winnipeg. She lived a life defined by loyalty, strength and compassion.
After graduating from the University of Manitoba, Lynne’s adventurous spirit carried her across the world during early adulthood, with stints in Boston, Tokyo, Paris, Zurich, and Brussels before settling in Toronto. She was an accomplished golfer during her youth, a sailor during adulthood, a devoted dog lover (hers and everyone else’s) and a huge sports fan. Few could rival her impressive knowledge of Toronto Blue Jays trivia. She painstakingly baked themed cakes for dozens of grandchildren’s birthdays and, never one to shy away from a challenge, took up running at 65 years of age and completed two marathons.
Although she started her career in Social Work, she was an educator at heart. Lynne devoted the majority of her professional life to Special Education at Whitney Public School, where she was integral to teaching countless students with patience and kindness. She loved children’s books and spent hundreds of hours reading her favorites to her grandchildren.
Lynne’s door was always open and her home was a welcoming place to stay for many over the years. She often had one of her children’s friends stay with her for weeks or months, as they landed in Toronto for various jobs or graduate programs. She reveled in hearing about the adventures and achievements of those that she cared about.
Above all, Lynne was an adored mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin and friend. She is survived by her loving brother, William Douglas (Bill); her children Andrew Pickersgill (Stephanie Bloomfield), Kristin Carpenter (David Carpenter), and Sara Pickersgill (Andrew Morris); and her beloved grandchildren Sam, Georgia, Charlotte, Lucy, Josh, Charlie and William. She took profound pride in the lives and accomplishments of her family and delighted in observing the people her grandchildren were becoming. She loved nothing more than watching the beautiful chaos of her large family – on the dock at the cottage, on the annual Thanksgiving weekend hike or during family adventures across the globe.
Lynne will be deeply missed and always loved, forever remembered for her enormous and ferocious heart. A celebration of her life will take place on Saturday May 9, 2026 from 2-4pm, Hickory and Ginko Suites, Mount Pleasant Funeral Centre, 375 Mt. Pleasant Rd., Toronto, ON.
Her family extends heartfelt thanks to the Palliative Care Unit at St. Joseph’s Health Centre, Unity Health Toronto for their exceptional and compassionate care at the end of Lynne’s journey. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the palliative care program at St. Joseph's hospital.