Monica Lewis, was born on November 1, 1940, in Browns Hall, Jamaica. A woman of faith, strength, dignity, and deep love for her family, Monica lived a life defined by hard work, courage, service, and legacy.

As a young woman, Monica was given a rare opportunity to leave Jamaica for England in search of a better life. She carried with her the hopes of her family and later made her way to Canada, where she would help build a new foundation not only for herself, but for generations of loved ones who followed.

Alongside her husband, George, Monica opened Monica’s Beauty Supply on Eglinton Avenue West in Toronto. In the late 1960s, the couple purchased their property at 1553 Eglinton West and began a lifetime of serving the Caribbean community across Toronto and Southern Ontario. Monica’s became one of Little Jamaica’s most long-standing beauty supply stores, known for offering hair and beauty products for both men and women at a time when few stores served the needs of the Black and Caribbean community.

But Monica’s was more than a business. It became a gathering place, a landmark, and an important part of Toronto’s cultural history. Downstairs, George operated the legendary reggae record shop known as George the Record Man, where music lovers, collectors, and musicians came to discover records from the Caribbean, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Together, Monica and George helped shape the sound, spirit, and identity of Toronto’s Little Jamaica community.

Monica’s legacy is also connected to Canadian music history. Her shop became part of the story of early Canadian hip hop, with Mr. Q’s “Ladies Delight” recorded there in 1979, widely recognized as the first known Canadian hip hop single. Over the years, Monica’s became a place remembered and honoured by artists, musicians, customers, neighbours, and generations of families who walked through its doors.

Those who knew Monica will remember her not only for what she built, but for who she was. She was warm, welcoming, generous, and deeply God-fearing. She treated people with dignity and kindness, whether they were family, neighbours, customers, strangers in need, or well-known artists who came from near and far to visit the shop. Her strength was quiet but powerful, and her presence left a lasting impression on everyone she encountered.

Even through decades of change, construction, and gentrification along Eglinton West, Monica remained firm, proud, and rooted in the community she helped shape. She stood as a symbol of resilience, entrepreneurship, family, and faith.

Monica passed away on May 20, 2026, leaving behind a legacy that will continue to live through her family, her community, and the many people whose lives she touched. She was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, matriarch, entrepreneur, and community pillar.

There will never be another Monica Lewis, and her love, strength, and light will live on forever.

Meet Me At Monicas x CBC: https://youtu.be/fj4ULvMl8uQ?si=VWGSxZPhPzdjottV

Funeral Service Livestream Link: bit.ly/RememberingMonica