Obituary of Ramona Lorraine MacFarlane
Obituary of Ramona Lorraine (Thomas) MacFarlane
Dec 1, 1928 - Mar 7, 2025
Passed away peacefully at Lakeside LTC in Toronto at the age of 96 with her family by her side. Predeceased by her loving husband Morris and son Mark (Selma and former wife Sigrun), survived by her daughters Nicolette (former husband Ayman) and Christiane (Shutian), her grandchildren Sasha (Ariel), Samir, Odin (Chelsea), Edda (Gregory), Jason and Brendon, and her great grandchildren Abby, Ava, Aria and Kveldulfur.
Ramona was born in Toronto and attended Jarvis Collegiate before moving to Miami Florida with her mother for her final year of high school.
Her love of politics initially led her to university studies in Washington D.C. but Ramona found her true calling when she decided to move to New York City to attend the Parsons School of Design.
This is where she met the love of her life Morris MacFarlane at Canada House which led to a happy 65 year marriage. Together, they moved to Europe, first to Geneva (where Nicolette was born), then to run a boy’s private school in Izmir Turkey (where Mark was born).
In 1955, Ramona, Morris and their family followed her dreams to Paris, France, where their youngest daughter, Christiane, was born. For 10 years, Ramona thrived living in the City of Light. She attended culinary school at the Cordon Bleu (both her father and mother were professional chefs) and visited every museum and gallery, all the while raising their three children on rue Edmond Valentin in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower. Her love of flowers took her to the flower markets weekly and her creative talents and sense of fashion were displayed in the clothes she made for herself and her family.
Ramona and Morris went to movies, opera and concerts and became involved in the community that attended the American Church of Paris. On many weekends, they escaped to the wooded outskirts of Paris to join sporting and social activities at the Standard Athletic Club in Meudon. There, as throughout all their time overseas, they met lifelong friends from all walks of life whom they continued to visit in future years.
In 1965, Ramona and her family boarded ship and moved back across the Atlantic where they first spent two years in Boston. Ramona, while helping her children adjust to a new country and culture, put her creative design talents to work at an architecture firm, then at an upscale interior design store where she became enamoured with various Scandinavian designers including Marimekko.
In 1967, Centennial Year drew the family back to Canada and to her hometown, Toronto. They moved to Ottawa three years later where Morris worked the rest of his career at the Canada Council for the Arts. Finally putting down roots, they enjoyed all that the Capital had to offer for over 45 years. Ramona was able to pursue her love of politics by working on Parliament Hill for a few years, and then at various other charitable organizations such as the Hunger Foundation. She thrived in the international community, enjoyed all the arts and culture available in Ottawa, and volunteered in many of these organizations. Some of her favourites were working on set designs at the Ottawa Little Theatre, flower arrangements at many functions and celebrations in international communities, as well as teaching children in various museums and galleries.
After retirement they spent the next 25 years enjoying summer life at the cottage in Quebec where she designed interiors, sewed curtains and upholstery, and cultivated beautiful gardens. She loved swimming, canoeing, and hosting family and friends, especially her grandchildren. Evenings were for bridge, storytelling, and watching the sunset over the lake with a drink in hand. In winter they traveled to visit old friends and family overseas from Iceland to China.
After her husband of 65 years passed away suddenly in 2016, Ramona moved back to Toronto to Lakeside LTC where she was cared for until her passing. Her family and the devoted staff ensured her final years were filled with comfort and love, celebrating her 96th birthday together in December.
We wish to thank all the staff, particularly nursing, and activities at Lakeside, who cared for Ramona during her final years.
A creative, stylish, and dynamic woman, Ramona embraced life fully, connecting with people from all walks of life and leaving a lasting impact on those who knew her. She will be deeply missed by family and friends worldwide.
A family-organized & directed memorial service will be held at the Chapel of St. James-the-Less, 635 Parliament St., Toronto, on Monday, March 17, at 2:00 p.m., followed by a reception at 3 p.m. at St. Paul’s Bloor Street, 227 Bloor Street East.
You are invited to share a memory and photo of Ramona's life on her memorial legacy page.
Donations in Ramona’s name may be made to a charity of choice, or the Alzheimer Society, the Daily Bread Food Bank, or Toronto Botanical Garden using the Donations on her home page.
Uniquely entrusted to eco Cremation & Burial Services Inc.
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