Help Us Honor Simone's Life

She was known for her glowing smile and warm loving presence. She was hilarious beyond belief, with that rare gift for finding real humor in the absurdity of life. Many told her that she should be a comedian. Tough circumstances, including a chronic illness, prevented her from making it big. But in the lives of those she knew she was a superstar. 


Originally from the lush landscape of Jamaica, she loved returning to natural scenery whenever she could, spending time outdoors with her friends on the Toronto islands, and above all being close to the healing energy of water. Her father lovingly called her “fish outta watah”. 


Back on the mainland she was also the life of the party, the most magnetic presence, who spread joy like wildfire. As easily as she could project happiness into a room, she could also tune into every person she met, caringly connecting with people to learn about what made them unique. 


Loving kindness was her natural way, and she built community wherever she was, becoming instant family to many who knew her. She spoke to and made friends with everyone, it did not make any difference who you were, what you looked like, or what your path in life had been. Possibly one of the greatest gifts she gave us was the way she fearlessly lived her truth. She taught us all how to be proud of who we are.   


Simone moved to Toronto at the age of 10, joining the city’s rich diversity and contributing her fun loving presence to many communities across the city. Food was her passion. Taking after the amazing talents of her mother, Simone was a fantastic cook. Connected closely to her love of showing love, Simone spread her joy through her food, feeding all of us at birthdays, holidays, hang outs and any other time that she possibly could. All of us aspired to learn from her. Drawing on her pride in the rich food culture of Jamaica, her use of seasoning was truly a gift to this world. 





It’s hard to believe that someone so full of life could be gone, but devastatingly we lost Simone - and Toronto lost one of it’s brightest lights - on the 24th of February to an enlarged heart causing a heart attack. Ironically, and as Simone would know hilariously, her heart was just too big for this world. 


We will bask in the glow of the love she shined on us forever, but in the current moment there are some urgent things that need to be paid for. Simone’s only immediate family in Canada is her mum who now has to solely shoulder the costs of burying her daughter. Above all else this money is for her, a beautiful and loving woman herself, who is in need of support from the community to lay her daughter to rest and take on the costs of honoring her and caring for the 3 pets that Simone left behind. 


We are fundraising in order to address those concrete needs of her passing including her funeral, burial, support for her cats Asia and Star, as well as her puppy Kali. 


Please help us repay her for the immeasurable joy and beauty she brought into this world.


#rememberingsimone
#gofundme