Crawford Park lost an active citizen last week. Denyse Gérin-Lajoie died in her sleep on Wednesday, May 16, 2012. She was 82 years old.
I knew Denyse because she was active on the Committee for the Protection of the Natural and Built Heritage of the Desmarchais-Crawford District, a local group that is working to protect the heritage and green space of our neighbourhood. She often talked about her recent work photographing the trees and green space on the Douglas Institute grounds.
She also told us about her photography book about a fishing village in Portugal, but didn’t mention how important her work was considered in that country. She also didn’t talk about her expositions in Canada, the United States and Portugal nor that she was co-founder of the photography magazine OVO, a publication that Le Devoir describes as Quebec’s most celebrated art magazine dedicated to that form.
The celebration of her life yesterday at the Mount Royal Cemetery Funeral Home Music featured poetry, letters and music, in addition to stories about her identity as a fun and unusual grandmother. Attendees included cousin Jacques Parizeau and various artists, poets and photographers.
Denyse’s energy, enthusiasm and dedication to excellence will be missed.
