Lisa Gotlieb (Friend)

Entered March 12, 2024 from Toronto

My sincerest condolences for your loss, Chris. I always admired the woman you described as tiny in stature but giant in spirit. Cristian and I are sending much love to you and Xavier.

peggy 

Entered March 12, 2024

Sincerest condolences to you for your loss. Sending you thoughts of comfort and strength during this difficult time.

Karynn Austin 

Entered March 12, 2024 from Toronto

Dear Chris -
My heart is with you and Xavier right now.
Much love

Melanie Campbell (Friend)

Entered March 12, 2024 from Sault Ste. Marie

Zulmira was a charming, kind, resilient and hilarious woman. I treasure every moment I spent with her. From my family to Zulmira’s family - my deepest condolences

Tina Lage (Cousin)

Entered March 13, 2024 from Richmond Hill, Ontario

My sincere condolences. She had a remarkable life.

Zulmira (MIRA) Holzmann was born in a little village in Portugal where she happily picked figs in her backyard and lived with her grandmother. She was reunited with her mother Celeste and moved to Lisbon as a young girl to help care for her half brother.

As a young lady Zulmira left home to move to Paris where she lived for many years and proudly received her Diplome De Langue Francaise from the Alliance Francaise, From there she came to Toronto on a Diplomatic Visa with the French Embassy with the intention of carrying on with them to Brazil.

But then she met a Man and surprise had a baby. The man went away but eventually another man fell in love with her and they got married.

Over all her years she also travelled the world, from Jamaica to Morocco to China to all across Europe and more. Travelling was her greatest happiness until her Daughter (Chris) had a son (Xavier) with Paul and then her world became complete.

She was also very active in her community getting many awards for her volunteer work and contributions from knitting hats to working in the local community centers and also acting as a companion to seniors in the neighborhood.

One of her greatest accomplishments was learning how to swim in her later years. When she was 20ish - she almost drowned in the Mediterranean and never went into water again. One day she signed up for swimming lessons and over the next 4 years faced her fear and once again went swimming in the Mediterranean.

Her love of music was robust from the French icons Edith Piaf or Charles Aznavour (both of whom she saw many times in Paris) to Samba, Fado, Classical and her other favorite Elvis.

Unfortunately, during Covid her health deteriorated and the these most recent years where spent in-and-out of hospitals never fully recovering. In her final weeks she was at home living with her Daughter and got her final wish to travel onward surrounded by her family and in peace and dignified.

She will be missed but always thought of and admired and loved.
In lieu of flowers we suggest a donation to Doctors without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières with thanks.

Much gratitude must be given to Dr. Samantha Nutt and staff at WCH for their support and guidance over the last few years.