Marsha’s life will be honoured at a gathering on Saturday September 17, 2022, between 2:00pm – 4:00pm, which will be held at Morley Bedford Funeral Home, 159 Eglinton Ave West, Toronto (2 lights west of Yonge Street, a 5 minute walk from the TTC subway at Eglinton Station). The gathering will also be livestreamed.
Marsha Rose-Anne Gay was an adored shining star, who exuded kindness and love to every person she met. Born September 5, 1966, she passed away unexpectedly on September 2, 2022. She leaves behind her devastated family, her mother Gemma, her brother Ashley, her sister Karen, her amoureux Gérard Raymond, and the absolute centre of her universe, her beloved son Mathias. Friends and family around the world, who also cannot imagine life without her, will miss her profoundly. She showered all her loved ones with the deepest love, respect, and compassion.
Marsha was born in Trinidad, raised in Winnipeg, lived in France, Japan, India, Kenya, Guadeloupe, Nunavut, and for most of the last twenty-five years, Toronto. She loved to read and wrote prolifically, and was always accompanied by imaginative projects, including her beautiful crafting and knitting. Her sense of adventure and zest for travel was unlimited. More than places, Marsha always wanted to know people. She would look deeply into your eyes when speaking with you. For that moment, you felt like the only person in the room. The warmth of her smile felt like rays of the sun to bask in. And if you were the lucky recipient of a Marsha hug – a close full embrace like no other – you will remember it forever.
When Marsha had Mathias, she said that she had met the true love of her life. She poured all of her love and wisdom into her magnificent son, and she was her fiercest and most passionate in advocating for the best for him, and being the best mother she could be to him. Mathias brought her a sense of wonder and joy, and Marsha treasured him. Marsha loved her family deeply and they, her. In Gérard, she found a true life partner.
In addition to all of her amazing life accomplishments as a loving mother, partner, sister, daughter and friend, Marsha was also a leading intellectual light and a lifelong learner. She was astute, intellectually curious, and a critical thinker. That brilliance eventually led her to a LLB from the Faculty of Law at University of Toronto, clerking at the Court of Appeal for Ontario, and an LLM from Osgoode Hall Law School in alternative dispute resolution. She put all of those skills to work as a lawyer for the Department of Justice for twenty years where she was an inspiring leader and passionate about making a difference. Marsha literally changed the lives of the law students she gave so much to. Marsha also gave back to her community. She volunteered on a government-wide charitable campaign, on her co-op board, and as a community mediator.
Creative, dazzling, warm, and soulful, her vibrant presence in our lives would never have been long enough, but now feels all too brief. She will be cherished with love and memories to last lifetimes, and she lives on in all of our hearts.
In lieu of flowers, her family asks that donations be generously made to Sistering.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Marsha Rose-Anne Gay 2022..
Morley Bedford Funeral Services Ltd
Death notice for the town of: Toronto, Province: Ontario
My sincerest sympathies go out to Marsha’s family, friends and acquaintances at this difficult time. I found her calming, positive and truly inspiring and am grateful that I was able to meet her. She will be missed and fondly remembered.
Sending sincere sympathy and compassion to Marsha’s family, friends and all who are mourning her deeply. May you all be treated gently and with utmost tenderness as you grieve and process this unimaginable loss. I am grateful to have had the truly great pleasure of knowing Marsha – she was a bright, warm and steady presence in our yoga community and will be greatly missed and remembered by us all.
Our deepest and heartfelt sympathy to Marsha’s family. Marsha was a shining star. Her giggle sincere. Her smile infectious. We had a kindred friendship even though we were miles away.
Rest well my dear friend. See you again when the school bell rings.
With love,
The Anderson’s
I only just recently learned of Marsha’s passing and though I didn’t know her as well as some of our mates from the University of Winnipeg and Women’s Centre, I want to let her family and friends in Toronto know that there are many people thinking of her here.
I just learned of Marsha’s passing through our writing group. I had the distinct honour of writing with her for a while, and have witnessed that soulful voice, depth of spirit, and intense love that she carried. To her family and close friends, I can only say that having known her as briefly as I did, I can’t imagine how enormous this loss is for all of you. And to Mathias, your mom is still pure kindness and warmth. She wrote about your adventures together in Nunavut and in refinishing a door in ways that bring the bond of mother and son to a level of the spirit second to none. May you find your way in her memory knowing that she was always fiercely proud of you.
Sympathy does not even begin to capture the intensity of Marsha’s loss, and I pray that her spirit is buoyed up in the greatness of this Universe that she so wonderfully lit with her unique and unparalleled brightness.