Obituaries

Uncle Roy was to me always a kind, patient and caring person throughout my lifetime. That commitment for others is not easy to sustain with a family he created with his wife and children to support, work and various interests to attend—unless you have outstanding moral character, innate kindness and generosity. He possessed these traits in spades. Uncle Roy had a way of connecting with the diverse generations in our family that was fresh and unexpected. He also possessed a quiet sense of fun. We shared a bond over loss, but also joys like family history and curiosity about different aspects of culture, history, art and politics. I was drawn to my uncle's calm, warm and dependable character because he was grounding in a sea of sometimes life's calamity. Uncle Roy was a mentor about what I hoped I could achieve as a young person, coupled with the difficulties to find my bearings after a substantial personal loss in my formative years. Surprisingly, the differences between our generations and respective lives was much less than the similarities we could muse over and share with a smile at family gatherings. I will miss Uncle Roy's gentle expressions and well-meant teasing. My mother loved her little brother, Uncle Roy, and this made me feel a sense of continuity to share her memory with him together. I carried on Mom's tradition with favourite recipes as a way of keeping her memory alive. My uncle seemed to know intrinsically what it meant to me to convey these traditions to rest of the family. It spoke volumes about his kindness and empathy. He also supported me after Grandma Nadine was gone, in very similar ways. I am so grateful. These simple and lovable things encapsulated who Uncle Roy was to others. His stalwart commitment to his family was a rarity. Uncle Roy's gentle demeanour, steadfast and strong presence is something that he left with love to each of us today. I hope Uncle Roy is especially remembered through the lens of what shaped him and filled his lifetime with joy, meaning and conviction: his close family, friends, hobbies he enjoyed and encouraged in others, as well as the craft and art he created. His quiet amusement at life's quirks made me feel like I had a friend to share a a bit of a laugh, when many parts of life are quite difficult. Uncle Roy shared his worldview and he listened with patience when I needed advice over the years. I was always thankful, but I know the best thing he gave me was the gift of placing trust in myself and my life's endeavours, even if they did not always come to fruition or go to plan. I had the sense that he believed in me because of who he was and it made for a stabilising encouragement for something he perhaps saw in me. Uncle Roy was always true to himself and treated others with fairness. Today, describing Uncle Roy's memory is a poignant reminder that perhaps we can see ourselves best, when we mirror the very highest interpersonal traits someone has demonstrated to us. Chiefly, when we look in the mirror, do we see just ourselves, or the people who have impacted, supported, loved and helped shape us? I think Uncle Roy's impact over his life is best described in these tangible ways. These are just some of the many ways I will best remember my uncle. How much Uncle Roy and my mother shared a common bond kept some parts of my Mom's own memory alive. He cared about me just because I came from her and that made me feel "seen" as I mourned her overtime. May we all remember that a single person like my uncle can impart meaningful impressions to emulate. May Uncle Roy have always known how much he meant to each of us who shared a part of his life journey. I hope that these words surround his memory today, and imbue it with thankfulness for having shared many years as friends, and very lucky to call each other family. With heartfelt condolences to each of those impacted by his loss. Love, Sharon Lindsley, Vivienne, Aurora and Gavin

Roy was always a quiet gentleman, but when I was in his presence, I felt welcomed. You could not be in his and Joan's home without feeling their love for everyone. He will be missed tremendously.

Thank you for writing this beautiful text about Roy. I feel so grateful that I got to cross paths with him through knowing you, Alex and Molly, and I'm particularly glad that I got to spend a few days hanging out with him and Joan last year when they visited LA. Joan- being with you and Roy felt like being amongst family, and was really comforting being so far from home myself. What a gift to be friends with the whole Sievert family- I love you guys and am thinking of you all the time.