Lillian Gwynyth Powell

Lillian Gwynyth Powell, 72, of Toronto, Ontario, passed away peacefully at True Davidson Acres Long Term Care on December 27, 2023, with family by her side. Lillian was diagnosed with early onset dementia/Alzheimer's in the summer of 2012 and was a resident at True Davidson Acres from late January 2013 until her death.

Lillian was born in Toronto, the eldest of 8 children. A brilliant student who excelled in maths and science, she graduated Grade 13 in 1970 with a 97% average, top of her Del La Salle College class and 3rd in Ontario. During high school she competed in many mathematics contests, coming 3rd in the 1968 Ontario Junior Maths Contest, and 6th in the1970 Ontario Senior Maths Problems Competition.

Lillian graduated from the University of Toronto in 1974 with a B.Sc., with a computer science specialist designation and mathematics minor. She was a University of Toronto Masters candidate in computer science on a National Research Council scholarship and completed four post-graduate courses.

Throughout her career as a computer programmer/analyst she worked for major corporations and government agencies, including Taskmaster Computing Systems, I.P. Sharp and Associates, Canada Permanent Trust Corp., Ministry of Treasury and Economics, Ministry of the Environment, Spar Aeropspace, Multidata Systems Group, and the City of Toronto. Her work at Spar Aerospace included producing programs for a material activity control and inventory system for the CANADARM, as part of NASA’s Space Shuttle program, where she reorganized applications programs, data files, system files, disks and disk directories for more efficient information storage.

Lillian was an excellent pianist having studied at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. In her first few years at True Davidson Acres she continued to play regularly for residents and staff.

A practicing Catholic, Lillian also attended services at Dewi Sant Welsh United Church for many years, where she played the piano, as well as the Metropolitan Community Church.

Lillian enjoyed science fiction and sudoku and other brain games. She was an avid history buff and member of the York Pioneer and Historical Society. She did the research for the 1985 Canadian historical feature film SAMUEL LOUNT, about her great-great-grand uncle who was one of the leaders of the Canadian Rebellion of 1837 and was hanged for treason. The film was produced by Lillian’s sister Elvira Lount and broadcast on CBC.

As a trans-woman Lillian was an active member of The 519 Community Centre on Church St, and continued to participate in activities at The 519 during her first years at True Davidson, thanks to her care workers who took her to events there, as well as to Pride Week events. At True Davidson she was involved with Pride Week planning activities.

The family thanks the caregivers from The 519 and elsewhere who visited Lillian and took her out during her 11 years at True Davidson, in particular the dedicated Jennet Cox who cared for Lillian during the last 6 years.

The family also thanks the staff of True Davidson for their exemplary care of Lillian and commitment to 2SLGBTQ+ values.

A private viewing was held at Rosar Morrison Funeral Home on Dec 31, 2023. A Funeral Service will be held later this spring. Cremation burial will be at St James Cemetery, 635 Parliament Street.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation in Lillian’s memory to the Alzheimer Society of Toronto or to The 519 Community Centre.