LOFCHY o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.toronto_star 2006-12-05 published
Mother ignored pleas before plunge
Family struggles to understand why woman jumped off bridge with
her son
By Michele
HENRY,
Staff
Reporter
One wilted bouquet of flowers, a few plastic poinsettias and
a teddy bear fastened to the guardrail of a 401 overpass are
the only visible reminders of how a mother plunged to her death
this weekend, along with her preschool-aged son.
Andrea JOHNSON, 30, jumped off the Morningside Ave. bridge with
her 2-year-old son Sulla
GENUA on Sunday evening.
The two plummeted 30 metres onto the busy westbound collector
lanes of Highway 401 below in the city's east end.
Relatives learned of the tragic situation late yesterday afternoon.
"We only found out a couple of hours ago," said a cousin of
GENUA's
father, who did not want to be named.
"There's a lot of sorrow. We're very frustrated and upset."
JOHNSON was undeterred by motorists who stopped their cars on
the side of the road to try to help. Despite their pleas, she
flung herself and her son off the bridge. Both were struck by
cars speeding along the highway, near the Toronto Zoo, at about
7: 15 p.m.
A post-mortem examination conducted yesterday concluded that
JOHNSON died as a result of multiple trauma, while her son was
killed by blunt-impact head trauma.
Speculation swirled as to whether the pair was from out of the
province, and why the mother had taken her own life and that
of her child.
Psychiatric experts say it's likely
JOHNSON suffered severe depression
and speculated that a psychotic episode pushed her to this "highly
lethal" act.
"I'd be concerned about a psychotic depression, where judgment
and connection to reality are impaired," said Doctor Jodi
LOFCHY,
an associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Toronto
and chair of psychiatric emergency services at the University
Health Network.
"Someone has to be very ill for this to occur."
LOFCHY explained that in such cases, the woman tends to believe
she is "saving herself and the boy from a fate worse than death."
Things seem to be so bad that she sees no alternative but to
end it all,
LOFCHY said.
Dr. Mark BERBER, a lecturer in psychiatry at U of T, explained
that such decisions are usually impulsive.
"Very often, something may have happened recently in their personal
life to tip the balance," he said. "And the woman sees no future
for her or her child."
A woman who experiences such an episode may believe she must
take the child's life as well because there is no one else to
care for him, said suicide expert Paul Links. "That's a sign
of a significant mental health problem."
It's not likely the added stress of the oncoming holiday season
had anything to do with it, the experts said.
Suicide rates tend to rise after the Christmas season, not before.
Investigators are still trying to piece together what happened
before JOHNSON, who was found without shoes, climbed over the
guardrail with her son. Officers said she made it to the overpass
on a southbound bus, with a transfer from the Sheppard Ave. subway
station.
With her hair in dreadlocks and wearing stockings, a three-quarter-length
coat, a ribbed sweater and a Gap jacket,
JOHNSON walked from
a nearby bus stop to the guardrail.
Several motorists who saw her walking suspiciously close to the
railing called 911. A few stopped their cars on the side of the
road when she crossed over the metal barrier with the child.
Police say a male motorist who had pulled over called to
JOHNSON,
who was described as acting calmly at the time, as he walked
toward her.
"She was very close to the edge," Toronto police Sgt. Chris
BUCK
said, and jumped before the man could get near her. The mother
died at the scene and the boy was pronounced dead in hospital.
Officers interviewed 10 to 12 witnesses: and kept the highway
closed for several hours as the Ontario Provincial Police reconstructed
the incident at the scene.
"It was pretty traumatic,"
BUCK said, noting that witnesses: received
counselling from Victim Services at police headquarters. "But
it's a credit to the people of Toronto that this situation can
be noticed and they do something about it."
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LOFT o@ca.on.middlesex_county.london.london_free_press 2006-04-15 published
NIBLOCK,
James
Keith
At the Strathroy Middlesex General Hospital, Strathroy on Wednesday,
April 12, 2006. J. Keith
NIBLOCK of Parkhill in his 77th year.
Dear brother of Helen
ROMPHF,
Kay and Ken
McLACHLAN, Ruth and
Don LOFT,
George and Lois
NIBLOCK all of Parkhill. Also survived
by several nieces and nephews. Predeceased by parents William
and Christina
(BOYCE)
NIBLOCK, brother-in-law Basil
ROMPHF. A memorial
service will be conducted at the M. Box and son Funeral Home,
183 Broad Street, Parkhill on Wednesday, April 19th at 1: 00 p.m.
Visitation one hour prior to the memorial service. Reverend Doug
WRIGHT will officiate. Cremation. Interment in Parkhill Cemetery.
Donations to the charity of your choice would be appreciated.
Share a memory or send condolences to www.boxfuneralhome.ca M. Box
and son will plant a tree in living memory of Mr.
NIBLOCK at
the Ausable-Bayfield Conservation Parkhill.
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LOFT o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.toronto_star 2006-04-28 published
POSIVY,
William "
Bill"
(Founder and Chairman of Sheridan Ford Lincoln)
Peacefully, in the loving arms of his wife and children, at the
Trillium Health Centre, Mississauga, on Wednesday, April 26,
2006, at the age of 80. Beloved husband of Anne for 57 years.
Much loved father of Karen
MOORE, Brian and Jackie, Susan and
her husband Martin
LOFT.
Loving
Grandpa of Alexander, Erin, Connor,
and Geordie. Dear brother of Joseph and his wife Iris, and their
sons Kevin and Cameron. Friends may call at the Turner and Porter
"Peel" Chapel, 2180 Hurontario Street, Mississauga (Hwy. 10, North
of Queen Elizabeth Way), on Sunday from 2-5 and 7-9 p.m. with
prayers Sunday evening. Funeral Mass to be held from Saint Dominic's
Church, 625 Atwater Ave., Mississauga, on Monday, May 1, 2006
at 10: 30 a.m. Entombment Assumption Cemetery. Memorial donations
may be made to the Trillium Health Centre Foundation for Coronary
Care or the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
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LOFTUS o@ca.on.middlesex_county.london.london_free_press 2006-06-30 published
LOFTUS,
Sister
Anita (née Helen Catherine
LOFTUS)
At Ignatia Hall, Mount Saint_Joseph, on Thursday, June 29, 2006,
Sister Anita
LOFTUS
(Helen
Catherine
LOFTUS) of the Community
of the Sisters of Saint_Joseph of the Diocese of London in her
92nd year and her 68th year of religious life. Lovingly remembered
by her sister Monica
BOLL of Simcoe, Ontario, and her many nieces
and nephews. Predeceased by her parents Michael
LOFTUS and Mary A.
BURK/BURKE, her sister Mary Margaret (Sister Clarence, C.S.J.) and
her brother John M.
LOFTUS.
Sister
Anita entered the Sisters
of Saint_Joseph in 1938. She ministered for many years as an elementary
school educator, teaching at Saint Mary's School in Tillsonburg,
Ontario and
at Sacred Heart and Our Lady of Lourdes Schools in
Windsor, Ontario. After her retirement she ministered within
her Community by acting as Assistant Librarian and offering hospitality
to our Chaplains and visitors at Mount Saint_Joseph. Sister Anita
will be fondly remembered by her religious Sisters for her gentleness
of manner both shown in speech and in action. Her life lived
with a generosity of spirit provides an example for us all. The
Community is grateful to the nursing staff for their loving care
of Sister Anita. May she rest now in God's loving embrace. Resting
at Mount Saint_Joseph Motherhouse, 1486 Richmond Street North,
on Sunday, July 2, 2006 from 2-4 p.m. A wake Service will be
held at Mount Saint_Joseph Motherhouse on Sunday at 7 p.m. The
Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated in Immaculate Conception
Chapel, Mount Saint_Joseph Motherhouse, 1486 Richmond Street North,
on Monday, July 3, 2006 at 10 a.m. Interment in Saint Peter's Cemetery.
O'Neil Funeral Home.
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LOFTUS o@ca.on.middlesex_county.london.london_free_press 2006-10-30 published
PAGE,
Helen
Louise
Peacefully in her sleep at Marian Villa on Saturday, October 28,
2006 Helen Louise
PAGE in her 87th year. Beloved mother of Linn
LOFTUS and her husband Frank, John
PAGE and his wife
Sophia and
Allida NEILLY and her husband Mike. Dear sister of Lynn
McCARTHY.
Survived by 7 grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren and 2 nephews.
Visitors will be received at the John T. Donohue Funeral Home,
362 Waterloo Street at King Street, London on Monday evening
from 7-9 o'clock, where the funeral service will be held on Tuesday
morning at 11 o'clock. Interment in Park Lawn Cemetery, Toronto,
Ontario.
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LOFTUS o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2006-10-13 published
BUCK,
Darlene
(September 23, 1942-October 5, 2006)
Darlene died October 5 after a short, brave battle with cancer.
Darlene was born in Sault Saint Marie, educated in Toronto and
came west for adventure in 1965. She is survived by her husband
Dr. H.W. (Bill)
BUCK, her brother Bernie
HUTCHINS, wife
Gerri
and niece Pamela of Maple Ridge, step-father Bernard
HUTCHINS
also of Maple Ridge, step-daughter Maureen
(LOFTUS)
MacDONALD
and husband John, step-son Wayne
LOFTUS and three step-grandchildren,
Brett, Mark and Lindsey
LOFTUS, step-daughter Adrienne
BUCK and
cousins Jill
FRENETTE and Ted
SEWCHUK of Sault Saint Marie. They
will all miss her caring interest and wise council. In her early
life she was very active in power boating at the Royal Vancouver
Yacht Club, and later, an ardent golfer and past Ladies Captain
at Capilano Golf and Country Club. Darlene passed away peacefully
at Lions Gate Hospital in North Vancouver. The family thanks
the staff of the Palliative Care Unit for the care and love Darlene
received. A Celebration of Life will be held at 3: 00 p.m., Thursday,
October 26 at the Capilano Golf and Country Club. An Eight Bells
ceremony will also be held on Monday, October 30 at 1: 30 p.m.
at the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club. In lieu of flowers, please
make donations to the Lions Gate Hospital Foundation.
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