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Lise Collinson
02-Dec-1939 — 28-Mar-2026
Obituary Overview
In Loving Memory
Lise Collinson (née Geoffrion) passed away suddenly on March 28, 2026, at Toronto Western Hospital, at the age of 86.
Born in the east end of Montreal on December 2, 1939, Lise grew up playing baseball with the neighbourhood boys and teaching herself to skate in her big brother’s too-big skates.
Lise got her first job as a teller at Bank of Montreal, where she met a young Peter Collinson who had just emigrated from Stockport, England. Despite their language barrier, the two shared a love of Montreal’s jazz scene and books. They married in 1965 and had two children.
Lise is survived by her beloved husband, Peter, with whom she shared more than 60 years of marriage. She was a devoted mother to Michelle (Mark Cyr) and Anne (Erin Aults), and a proud and loving grandmother to Claire, Luc, Morgan, and Andrée. She also leaves behind many cousins, nieces and nephews, and dear friends and neighbours. Lise was predeceased by her father Alexandre (Pierre), her mother Thérese Geoffrion (née Jodion), and her brother Normand.
A reluctant transplant to Toronto in 1977, she would often tell people she had “just moved here” even decades after settling in North Toronto. Lise’s early years in Toronto were shaped by her commitment to family, including caring for her mother. In the early 1990s, a move to the Annex marked a new chapter of exploring local restaurants, film, folk dancing and travel. In good weather she would sit in her front garden and befriend the local dogs and their owners.
She would find a fellow French Canadian in any social setting and chat like they were old friends in minutes. Over time, the city became a place she called home, thanks in no small part to the close friendships she formed including Miep, Joe and Debbie; Harvey and Eileen; Danielle and Boris; Joanne and David; Vanessa, Mike, Beckett and Maisie; and Françoise, Celina, and Alissa.
Nothing brought Lise greater joy than her grandchildren. The time they spent together was a gift—filled with love and lasting memories.
Lise will be remembered for her wit, her caring, and the deep connections she built throughout her life. She will be greatly missed.
Our family would like to thank the amazing nursing and medical team at UHN Toronto Western emergency and Fell 8B.
A celebration of life will be arranged at a later date. For those who wish, donation to a school meal program is greatly appreciated.
