Trinidad-born Lydia Parris who worked as  a banker in Toronto, for 39 years died at hospital in Ajax, Ontario on January 3 last after a battle wih colon cancer. She was 64.

Parris who came to Canada in  1973, was widely known as a professional model ” who had built a portfolio that took her to runways in Paris, France, ” her son, Andre  told  The Caribbean Camera.

” From modelling, she went on to hold prominent positions as a banking professional with Scotiabank,” he said.

Parris who was born of Indigenous, Spanish and French

Creole ancestry, has been descriibed as ” a preserver of  Caribbean culture,”

Andre said  his mother was  ” deeply rooted in Toronto’s Caribbean community through the arts and remained a prominent fixture at Caribbean carnival festivities in the city, since its inception.”

He recalled that in her spare time  ” she enjoyed dancing, Zumba classes, attending arts and culture festivities, cooking, volunteering in her community and ‘ spreading joy,’  when and  wherever she could.

” But most importantly,, she was a woman of God who exemplified the

teachings of Christ in her everyday life.

“She had a knack for bringing  people together, making them feel welcome and supporting loved ones .”

She leaves her husband, Brian, her sons, André and Matthew, her daughter, Danielle and grandchildren, Aria and Rémy.

A funeral service for the late Lydia Parris  was held at the Whitby Christian Assembly on January 11 last.