03/04/2026
Beverly (Bev) McKnight (nee Brewer, Leckie)
September 9, 1938 – March 3, 2026
Anyone who knew Bev, knew her Spirit was unbreakable – and she had many reasons for it to break throughout the years.
Born and raised in Toronto – at the tender age of 5, while walking with her mother – Bev was hit by a streetcar and survived. And, if it’s possible, she would go on to survive a lot more than even that.
Bev traveled the world, including solo trips to Thailand, Cuba, Portugal, North Africa, and then traveling to many other places with her late husband, Bill.
She loves the musician, Sixto Rodriguez and is a film aficionado. Her daughter Susan says, “You never truly know someone until they’ve passed over, and now I really ‘get’ what… ‘she was larger than life,’ means.”
Bev went back to school in her 30s to get her SSGD and later to York University where she obtained a degree in Social Work. She worked at many hospitals in Toronto including West Park, Sunnybrook, and the CNIB. Bev brought LIFELINE into Canada while working at Sunnybrook and it was, in a beautiful twist of fate, LIFELINE once saved her life.
Bev passed over into heaven on Tuesday March 3 in the early morning – appropriately right after the lunar eclipse. Her daughter Susan was by her side and soon after her granddaughter Sam and family friend Twin.
Twin and Susan sat vigil off and on for four days in Matthews House Hospice. A place that can only be explained as God-given. May Matthews House go on for generations upon generations – the people, the atmosphere, the Spirit of that home is inexplicable, truly remarkable. When mumBev passed that morning, nurse Rebecca said she felt “an incredibly strong presence and energy come to get Bev.” She also said she felt goosebumps!
Bev leaves behind her second eldest son Scott Leckie, daughter Susan Leckie-Ponting, son-in-law, Ron Ponting, daughter-in-law, Leah Leckie, granddaughter Samantha Leckie, grandson Eric Leckie, sisters Jeri Maurice and Roxanne Brewer, nieces, Kirsten Maurice, Alexa Handley, Amanda Emery, Susan Carter. Great nieces, Ridley and Viyan Handley, Rachel Williams, great nephews, Dylan Emery, Kaiden and Rowan Handley.
We truly know that Bev was met in heaven by her late son, Steven Leckie, her beloved grandmother Susan Richardson, and all her beloveds who went before her.
A Celebration of Bev’s life will be held at a later date, details once available will be posted on www.druryfuneralcentre.com
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Matthews House Hospice in Alliston, ON.
It takes a village to raise a child, and it takes one to help someone die a physical death, although death is not the end.
The family wishes to thank all the women at Mathews House Hospice – what you do for the living – and the dying – will ring out forever more into the heavens. To Dr. Izabella Kogan, we are grateful for your guidance, support, and love – you were the one who helped my mama to heaven.
Thank you, Dr. Lauren O’Malley (please see local story here: https://www.simcoe.com/opinion/the-nurses-and-psws-were-amazing-and-the-food-wasn-t-bad-either-84-year/article_dcf76728-7b56-5fca-92e2-4bf84df15a77.html )
Thank you, Somayeh, Esther, Simran, Barb, Ruth, Ruth, Amenzie, Liz Ferrier, Christine Baird, Erin, Edith, Sam, Cailin, Crystal, Crystal, Megan, Tamara, and Ken and Bonnie, Dorothy, Shifali, Richali, Mike and Anne.
And at hospice – you know who you are – but thank you from all our hearts – Jessica, Aria, Kelly, Rebecca, Christine, Peace, Jennifer, Scarlet, all of you – caring, beautiful, giving, loving souls – thank you.