Lyn Rosalyn McAlister

Lyn leaves behind her beloved partner/spouse of 42 years, Gabriella Hawlitschek, who misses her deeply and will love her always.

Lyn met Gabi at a church dance that they almost didn’t attend on a very cold and icy March 15th in 1979, but it was love at first sight and they have been together ever since.

Lyn graduated from the school of hard knocks Magna Cum Loud-and-Colourful.

She tried her hand at many careers after leaving home at 17 to come to the big city of Toronto in the early 50’s. She was a waitress, a dress shop salesgirl (who loved pants), a switchboard operator, Peak Freans Biscuits all-round handy person, Serv-a-car gas station manager, and a courier driver - all of which she excelled at, much to her own surprise, and all the while entertaining those around her with her quirky wit.

Lyn’s greatest success and happiness came from starting her own pet sitting business in the late 1980’s. Her deep love and understanding of animals began at birth. She could have you in stitches with childhood stories of her grandmother’s hat-hating rooster, or her grandfather’s ornery farm workhorse that followed her around like a puppy, or her beloved wolf cross dog, Wolfie, who was her “brother”. Lyn was known as the “cat whisperer” by many of her clients, who also became her friends.

In her 20’s, she hung out with the Jazz musicians on the Yonge Street strip and in their after-hours jam sessions. Fearless, but lacking a sponsor, she missed out on becoming a race car driver in a Powder Puff league. Instead she joined a women’s basketball team at the petite height of 5’3&1/2”. Lyn then decided to join the police force but unfortunately didn’t meet the height requirements by a mere 1/2 inch.

When Lyn was in her 30’s, she drove across the entire United States in her beloved VW beetle, camping as she went. A few years after they met, Lyn convinced Gabi to drive with her to PEI and go camping near Peggy’s Cove, a trip Gabi will always cherish.

Lyn went zip-lining in Mexico in her late 70’s and was an inspiration to the younger members in the group. In Hawaii, she went swimming with turtles, even though she couldn’t swim a stroke and tended to sink. There’s a Boogie board with her fingernail marks in it somewhere.

Lyn discovered a love for pink hair, tattoos, wolves, owls, Fireball liqueur and Facebook. She hardly ever sat down at a dance. Lyn always said she didn’t have time to be old and set out to have a second childhood. Like everything else she put her hand to, she did it well.

Lyn will be sorely missed by her surviving cousins, her godson and his family, her many clients and their pets, her friends at MCC Toronto and in Cabo San Lucas and by anyone that she spoke to for more than 5 minutes. She inspired everyone she met with her optimism and great smile.

Following her wishes, there will be no funeral service. There will be a Celebration of Life at a later date when it’s safe or the weather cooperates for an outdoor gathering. In the meanwhile, raise a glass to her and smile.

For those who wish, donations can be made to loscaboshumanesociety.org or nywolf.org or any other animal conservation organization that is dear to your heart.

A tree will be planted in her honour.

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