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Lois Becker
August 28, 1928 - April 30, 2014
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<div itemprop="description">Lois Margaret Anne Becker (nee Kelly) peacefully departed April 30 2014 in Toronto, her family was with her. Deeply-loved wife and high school sweet heart of Walter Dean Becker; mother of Bob, Suzanne, Marilyn, Dana and John; and, adoring, gentle &lsquo;Loma&rsquo; for her nine grandchildren, Tyler, Drew, Greg, Cameron, Hilary, Pascal, Cole, Grace and Ryan. Her unwavering love and kindness extended far beyond her immediate family and friends, she touched countless lives through her passionate social work career and her tenacious community initiatives. <br /> <br />Born August 28th 1928 in Toronto to Margaret Simpson Case and Robert Huntingdon Kelly, Lois attended Oakwood Collegiate where she met the love of her life, Dean. Lois and Dean spent summers in Howdenvale where her parents had been going since the 1920&rsquo;s and where Lois&rsquo;s father and brother, Fred Kelly, built cottages on Bartlett Point. Lois and Dean completed degrees at the University of Toronto, both graduating in 1950. They were married September 9th, 1950 at The Church of St Michael and from then on Dean never left her side. <br /> <br />While raising her family of five, Lois lived in Hamilton, Sault Sainte Marie, Toronto and Burlington, as they moved to support Dean&rsquo;s progressing career in Steel Manufacturing. Lois and the family returned home to Toronto in 1980 where they remained. <br /> <br />When she was forty Lois went back to university and completed her second degree in Social Work at York University. Lois was a courageous, advocate for social equity, activist for progressive education and responsible community development. Of particular note, Lois was the Director of the Elizabeth Fry Society in Hamilton, Executive Director of Toronto&rsquo;s Central Neighborhood House in Cabbage Town; and she was actively involved in grass-roots movements such as, the halting of the Spadina Expressway development in 1971 and lobbying for expanding social housing development in Toronto in the 80&rsquo;s. To recognize her remarkable life-long dedication and commitment, The City of Toronto awarded her an achievement award for her service. <br /> <br />In addition to her successful career and raising a large family Lois enjoyed an incredibly robust and healthy life. Beginning with a love of horseback riding as a teenager and earning a degree in Physical Education; she ventured on extended bicycle trips with Dean through Europe and Asia and was a passionate runner well into her 70&rsquo;s. She participated in a number of marathon including New York, Boston and Vancouver, finishing first place in the Vancouver Half Marathon in the 70+ age group in 2002. <br /> <br />In the last years of her life Lois faced many medical challenges and she always had Dean by her side to hold hands, listen to music and talk. Her sensitivity, empathy and sense of humor continued to shine throughout her entire life, and now she is free. Lois was an inspiration to us all and is sadly missed; but her kindness and gentleness will continue within all of the people and the aspects of the world she touched &ndash; we love you.</div>