Jeanne getting her garden ready at her house on Gormley Avenue. Photo by Al Unda, late 1970s.

Tributes to Jeanne

I was planning to visit her in December.... I am a forester who graduated from Universidad de Chile in Santiago. For about five years I lived at her house on Gormley Avenue, near the Upper Canada College, while I was working and doing my Masters in Environmental Studies at York. We had an excellent relationship, she was like my older sister. We had long conversations fixing world problems, she would take me to help with the community gardens in the old train tracks nearby, I would help with her winemaking in her basement (her plum wine was first class!). She was always on the go but she would have the time to hear any important matter you needed to tell. She would ask me, “What is your new project Al?” while she was preparing her next spring flower seedlings under the light bulbs in her basement – her gardens were so beautiful. So much I can say, I really miss her very much and I will never forget her.

– Al (Alfredo) Unda

Although she is so easily admired for her leadership on social justice issues, it’s an entirely different side of Jeanne that I will miss the most: her companionship. She understood the simple but powerful purpose of accompaniment and, through her constant presence, gave meaning to the opening and closing words of the New Creed: we are not alone.

Whatever the topic, with Jeanne I knew I was in the company of a careful listener who offered her observations and thoughts with great care. There were times, over wine or whiskey, when she served as the non-judgemental sounding board for life’s ups and downs. As skilled as she was as a leader, a planner and a doer, she was equally talented at sitting still, being in the moment, and allowing silence to punctuate words of reflection. And in those moments, those gaps between the words and the sips, were some much-needed answers. Thanks, Jeanne … probably not said often enough.

– Mo Srivastava

I first met Jeanne at Trinity St. Paul's United Church Centre for Faith Justice and the Arts. She was the Chair of the Housing Action Group (HOT Group). We were tasked with exploring ways our community of Faith could support housing options and other supports for people experiencing homelessness. This was a passion of Jeanne's and she had a wealth of experience from which to lead us. Jeanne was a phenomenal Chair. She listened, she facilitated, she coordinated, she delegated with trust and faith, she supported, she was fun and she LED.

As a refugee from toxic religion Jeanne was critical in my reintroduction to Christianity and a community of believers. She did a great job of showing me how a faithful Christian community can live out justice with action and compassion and without cruelty of dogma. 

Being with Jeanne was like a long draught of cool water from a mountain spring. And like that spring her incessant insistence on forward movement cut through mountainous obstacles. And again, like that stream her seemingly innocuous, harmless and even helpful presence shaped the landscape of our community here in Toronto and at TSP in the most refreshing and invigorating manner. 

I adored her, respected her, learned from her and I miss her.

– James Holzbauer

I had the great fortune to meet Jeanne when the Homelessness Action Group started about 20 years ago and we were both on the steering committee. She was wise, elegant, witty and passionate about so many social justice issues and I found her awe-inspiring.

I knew I wanted to keep Jeanne in my life after HAG disbanded but I didn’t know why she would want to spend time with me. There was a 35-year age gap between us and our backgrounds were completely different. So I decided to volunteer with her at the Older Women’s Network, YWCA and Christie Gardens to stay in touch. My respect and admiration grew the more I got to know her.

The first time Jeanne told me she valued our friendship I was surprised yet honoured that she thought of me as a friend. But that was who Jeanne was: a wonderful, compassionate woman who warmly welcomed people into her life.

Over the years I shared my highs and lows with Jeanne and she was always there for me with a congratulatory toast, incredible insight, words of advice, or a non-judgmental ear. I cherished our visits and when the pandemic hit I truly missed her presence. I am so grateful that I was part of Jeanne’s palliative care team and will always treasure my time with her.

Jeanne was one of my closest friends and it was an extreme privilege that she called me one of hers.

– Tracy Kett

I had the honour of being Jeanne's Minister at Trinity St Paul's and she and I shared Communion before her death at Sunnybrook Hospital. She was such an accomplished woman but mostly I knew Jeanne as the picture of humility and love. She always smiled, even through her pain, and she did so not out of stoicism but out of a true appreciation for the life she had been given and the experiences she'd had. She loved and lived from a place of joy.

She was often the one that would comfort me! She was the one who would tell me my sermons moved her and my visits meant so much when I was questioning and feeling defeated. In short, Jeanne was the Minister I needed and we all needed. That was Jeanne with everyone. To be in her presence was to be in the presence of holiness, of laughter, of gratitude.

Her life was a celebration and she won't leave us anytime soon. She certainly lived "In life and death, in life beyond death, we are not alone, God is with us" Jeanne, you are with us. We witnessed the Divine through you. Thank you!

– Rev. Dr. Cheri DiNovo CM

Please keep checking this page for updates. If you would like to write a tribute or share a memory or photo of Jeanne, please send them to Tracy Kett at tracylkett@gmail.com

Back to main page