Eileen Audrey Finlayson

December 24, 2019

Eileen Audrey Finlayson, 91, passed away peacefully in her sleep on December 24, 2019 at her home at Briton House, in Toronto. Eileen was born on January 11, 1928 to Lorne and Audrey Campbell.She grew up in “The Beach” area of Toronto and graduated from teacher’s college in1949. In 1951 she married Donald Finlayson, a medical student at the University of Toronto. They had six children, ShionaFinlayson (BryanWilson), Stephen(Carol)Finlayson, Roderick (Anne)Finlayson, Catherine Finlayson, Anna (John)Dancuand Douglas (Robin)Finlayson. Eileen was the center of a family whosesix children,were followed with seventeen grandchildren and five great grandchildren Eileen was known for her wit, grace, and hospitality. Flouting convention and “the rules” she was an independent woman who loved toshake things up.She put people at ease in a home filled with keen conversation and the laughter of friends and family; there was always room for one more at her table. Thoughbusy with her children, she found time for volunteer work in both Toronto and Atlanta.Eileen loved art and many of the paintingsadorning the walls of the family homes trace their origins back to her collection.An intrepid traveler, she toured throughout Europe, the Philippines, China, as well as the Amazon to see Halley’s Comet. In her later years, Eileen enjoyedbird watching and would gladly travel to see exotic birds;allthose close to her have a copy of R.T. Peterson’s Field Guide to Birds. An avid tennis player, she was a member of the Toronto Cricket Club and the Cherokee Town and Country Club in Atlanta. She cherished her timewith the Emory Women’s Club andher Woman’s Investment Club. For several years she worked at “Evenings at Emory”, where she made good friends who she travelled with periodically. The Finlayson family would like to express our gratitude to thecaregivers who took such loving care of Eileen in her last years at Briton House. Following cremation, a memorial service will be held in Toronto at a later date.