Lillian Elizabeth (Petrie) Richardson

Lillian Elizabeth Richardson passed away peacefully at age 92 on August 10, 2024, with family by her side at her home in Claremont, Ontario. 

Lillian was born to Ukrainian-Canadian parents, Mary and John Petryga, on a farm near Vegreville, Alberta. They moved to Toronto when she was nine years old, where she quickly learned English. She attended Harbord and Vaughan Road Collegiates, where she found her gift of song and started taking vocal lessons. 

Lillian attended Victoria College at the University of Toronto, where she studied French and obtained her Artist Diploma in vocal music, performing at Hart House, as well as with the Canadian Opera Company. She found summer employment at Ronville Lodge on Lake of Bays, and in 1955, she met Ted, her husband of 67 years, across the lake at the Britannia Hotel. Upon his advice as a school principal, she chose to pursue a career in education and taught French and Music to elementary school children with the Scarborough Board of Education. 

While raising their four children, Lillian’s talent, charm, and desire to perform earned her leading roles in numerous musical productions with local theatre companies, including the Light Opera of Scarborough, Scarborough Music Theatre, and the Yorkminstrels. She also brought her love of theatre to her students, directing many musicals at her various schools.  

In 1973, Lillian and Ted moved their family from Scarborough to a 10-acre hobby farm in Claremont. They continued to spend summers at Lake of Bays where they had built a cottage close to their beloved Britannia Hotel.

Lillian retired from teaching in 1988 and worked as a real estate agent for several years, but after a summer retreat at the Haliburton School of Art, painting became her passion. She honed her artistic talent with the Markham and Lemonville groups of artists and enthusiastically created watercolour and acrylic masterpieces in her unique and joyful style. The happiness she felt creating her colourful treasures shone out of her paintings, and she loved sharing them with friends and family, who will cherish them forever, along with her melodious vocal recordings. 

Lillian loved to dance, sing, teach, paint, cook, read, write, summarize, share, laugh and breathe in life’s bountiful gifts. She was a persistent steward for the earth and all living things, urging everyone to reduce pollution of all forms to create a healthy environment for future generations. 

All who knew Lillian felt her passion, warmth and love…an enduring legacy of a blessed life.

Lillian is survived by her loving husband, Edgar (Ted), four children — Sheila-Marie (David), John (Vivian), Jim (Darlene), Rob (Kimberly), eight grandchildren — Drew (Carolyn), Carlannah (Gareth), Brittney (Chris), Taylor (Connor), Ian (Kristen), Haley, Cecily and Edmond.

There will be a private celebration of Lillian’s life at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, and as a tribute to Lil’s love for conservation, the family requests those who wish to express sympathy to consider making a donation to tree-planting organizations like A Living Tribute or Plant With Purpose.