It is with a heavy heart that we share the sad news that Zelia Tompa, beloved mother, grandmother, neighbour and friend, passed away with her family by her side on November 5, 2023 after a brief and courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.

Known as Mom to her 3 kids and referred to fondly as Grandma Z by her 7 grandchildren, she was born Zelia Maria Botelho on September 25, 1940 in a small town on the north shore of the island of Sao Miguel, the Azores, where she lived on a small farm with her family. As a young girl she was very studious and a voracious reader which opened her eyes to the world beyond the small confines of her island home. Possessing a feisty spirit, sharp intellect and an independent mind, she yearned for broader horizons, bigger dreams and a new life abroad.

At 23 years old she made the courageous decision to immigrate to Canada on her own, a country where she knew virtually no one and did not speak the language. She settled in Streetsville, Ontario where she met Elizabeth Hoople, a teacher, artist and historian, who taught English to newcomers and helped them settle into their new community. Zelia boarded with Ms. Hoople for several years during which time Ms. Hoople became a lifelong dear friend and a mother figure for Zelia, so much so that she was known to her children as “Granny”.

In 1968, she met her future husband, Beno Tompa, originally from Hungary, when they both worked together at CTS Canada in Streetsville. They married in 1969 and soon welcomed their first child, son Beno, followed by daughter Julie and then son Zoltan. Zelia and Ben saved and bought what would become their forever home on Merrydrew Court and built a life for their young family in Streetsville. It was the birth of her children that gave Zelia her most important and fulfilling role, as a loving and devoted mother. Deeply impacted by the loss of her own mother when she was only 10 years old, she embraced the role of mother to the fullest, determined to give her children what she was denied by the loss of her own mother at such a young age.

As a wife and mother Zelia was incredibly dedicated to her family. She was loving, encouraging and above all, so proud of her kids and their achievements. She would often be seen at basketball games, awards ceremonies, recitals, school events and graduations, always cheering them on and beaming with pride. She was a talented chef and baker; serving family and friends homemade and healthy meals made from scratch. She was an avid gardener; cultivating both stunning gardens that were the envy of the neighbourhood as well as a thriving vegetable garden and fruit orchard which provided for those healthy meals.

She was an entrepreneur; building a thriving home based tailoring business while looking after her young family, eventually returning to school later in life and then to corporate work to pursue a second career. She continued to be a lifelong learner and avid reader, always seeking to expand her understanding and knowledge about any range of topics. She was a nature lover, explorer and hiker, joining local hiking and walking clubs which afforded many new friendships and explorations in parks locally, around Ontario and further afield including epic adventures in Newfoundland, the Rocky Mountains, Italy, England and New Zealand.

She was a loyal and devoted friend, always making the effort to keep in touch with friends and neighbhours, maintaining many close friendships near and far often over a cup of tea and a game of Scrabble or Bridge. And of course the role she cherished and embraced more than anything in recent years, she was a devoted and proud grandmother to her 7 beloved grandchildren who she loved more than anything else in the world. The values she instilled, particularly the importance of family, live on in the tight knit extended family she nurtured and supported through the next generations.

Zelia is survived by her three children, Beno (Lee), Julie (Dan), Zoltan (Saira) and seven grandchildren Justin, Oliver, Lyla, Owen, Safia, Alaya and Taya. She is pre-deceased by her husband Ben and brothers Manuel and Joe.

In accordance with her wishes, a private family memorial has already occurred. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her memory to the following:

The Riverwood Conservancy
The Riverwood Conservancy is a local nature conservation organization that stewards the gardens and trail system at Riverwood Park, one of Zelia’s favourite local parks where she enjoyed frequent riverside and forest walks with friends and family. Donations made in her name will contribute towards conservation efforts and a memorial tribute.

https://theriverwoodconservancy.org/donate/
(note: please check in the box to indicate a tribute gift, then choose “The Gift is in Memory of” option to note Zelia's name)

Dorothy Ley Hospice
Zelia made the decision to be cared for during her final days at the Dorothy Ley Hospice based on the caring, compassionate and dedicated team who provide dignified, holistic palliative care for patients and their families at end of life. Donations made in her memory support the continuance of this important work

dlhospice.org
(please choose "In memory of" option so that donations are directed to her memorial tribute)