Obituary of Stephen Edward Grant

Steve Grant died in Toronto, Ontario on September 17 , 2024 at the age of 81.  He spent his last hours enjoying a Blue Jays game with a good friend and his last years surrounded by chosen family and his beloved pets.

 Steve was born 1943 in London, Ontario to the Grants.

A consistent theme in Steve’s life was faithfulness.  He cared for his mother who suffered from Alzheimer’s when the disease was not well understood.  He made it possible for her to live out her final days at home.  When she died,  he moved to Toronto and worked for the same company for 35 years as a mailroom operator. His life was upended when he was 55 years old when his job was eliminated.
Steve spent a couple of years struggling to find a job, permanent housing and spent two winters sleeping rough on the streets of Toronto. 

 Steve became a consistent advocate for homeless people in Toronto.  His own story was a powerful reminder that anyone could become homeless. He worked energetically as an outreach volunteer at Sanctuary Ministries in downtown Toronto. He started this work even before he found permanent housing. He is remembered for his long, fast strides as he checked on people sleeping on the grates in
the business district downtown. He is also remembered for playing Santa Claus at the Sanctuary Christmas party.  Steve told his story frequently to small groups through Christian Student Ministries (students, church members, local business people) and to media outlets including CBC’s Metro Morning and 100 Huntley Street.  He loved leading groups of students that came to the city to learn about
homelessness, its impact, and support building a new generation of young people who might just work towards positive change as a result of what he shared. 

 In his later years he continued to volunteer with The Dale Ministries in Parkdale. However, he also settled into community and family life.  Steve lived as a member of the Junia House community in Parkdale for seven years.  He made lifelong friendships with many young people coming to Toronto to start their careers or to attend school. He also became a well-loved neighbour to many people on Dunn
Avenue.  

Steve loved the family of his birth.  He is survived by his sister Eleanor McKechnie, his sister-in-law, Ruth Grant, his niece Ann Shaw (McKechnie), Malcolm  McKechnie, Robert Grant, Heather Palamuruk (Grant) and Jennifer Moher (Grant)

He was predeceased by his brother William Grant and Marnie Williamson

 Steve also became family to the people who lived with him, particularly the Hatlems and the ElzingaChengs.  He  enjoyed family dinners, outings, playing games with the kids, caring for his beloved cats, being walked by our dog, his yearly trip to the Indy with his neighbours, making welcoming small talk with everyone who passed by when he was out front for a smoke, making really good chili, singing at
night to himself, teasing the kids as they grew up and watching sports. Steve enjoyed his routines, but that didn’t stop him from occasionally trying new things like painting, a new recipe, or playing “Just Dance” on the Nintendo. The last decade of Steve’s life was spent with the ElzingaCheng family in which he functioned as an adopted Grandfather to Jacob, Mei Ling, and Isaiah.

 A memorial service will be held for Steve on October 5 th at 10 am at Epiphany and St. Marks (201 Cowan Ave). In lieu of flowers please consider making a donation to the Dale Ministries/PO Box 94, Station C ,Toronto, ON  M6K 3M7   Dale Ministries