It is with great sadness that we express the loss of Dr. Lalia Angela Johnston. She passed away peacefully surrounded by her family in Halifax, Nova Scotia on the evening of June 11, 2018 at the age of 82.
Lalia was named after her grandmothers – Lalia May Dauphinee and Susan Angela Cecelia Morash. She was known to many as either Sisser, or Duff as her name was often a challenge for some to pronounce. She was born at home in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia on April 6, 1936 to proud parents, Gertrude and Wesley Dauphinee. She remained a loving sister, mother, grandmother, aunt, great-aunt and friend. She was the sister of the late Charles Dauphinee and survived by her sisters, Joyce Boland, Eileen Irwin and her husband, Artie, and her sister-in-law, Sharyn Dauphinee. Lalia was the loving wife of the recently deceased, Dr. Dennis Johnston. They were married on September 3, 1960 spending nearly 60 years together.
She grew up being an enthusiastic athlete with a particular love of swimming, tennis, skating and baseball. She was also an accomplished violinist. Above all else, Lalia was known for her love of fashion. Whether she was going to a lavish event or hanging around at home, she was always dressed to the nines. She was bold and elegant with her fashion choices which was a reflection of her personality. It should come as no surprise that her hair and nails were perfectly polished for her grand entrance into Heaven.
Lalia was an active member in student affairs at Greenvale Dartmouth High School. She was the President of the Students’ Council, Editor of the Spectator Yearbook and Glee Club. She was awarded the IODE Scholarship to Dalhousie at her graduation. At the age of 17, Lalia started her Bachelor of Science at Dalhousie University where she later met her husband Denny. Denny had convinced her to apply for Medical school and in her last year, she applied and was accepted. In 1956 she became one of four women in the class with over 80 men. She graduated from Dalhousie Medical School in1962, receiving the Dr. R.O. Jones Award for “Distinction in Psychiatry” at the graduation ceremony. She was a true trailblazer, completing medical school and going on to practice at the Nova Scotia Hospital for her entire career. Another major accomplishment of hers was being a wonderful mother to Dennis, Stephen and Susan while working full time, a rarity in her day. She was an active participant in the Junior League and an active member of the First Baptist Church, becoming its first female Deacon in 1976. She was also a world-traveling skier for as long as she could be.
Lalia loved to travel with Denny and they had many exciting adventures around the world well into her 70’s. She took her diagnosis of Parkinson’s in stride and tackled it with her usual tenacity with which we are all familiar. As Lalia’s Parkinson’s progressed, it became more difficult for her to travel with Denny and she would often express how much she missed him while he was away. When Denny took a turn for the worse in Barbados earlier this year, she got ready to see him at the hospital as if she were getting ready for their first date. Denny was Lalia’s first true love and after his death she said she was unsure of how she would go on without him. Ironically, Denny died four months to the day before Lalia. The immeasurable love that they shared is truly admirable and we can all find peace in knowing that their souls are once again connected in harmony. Denny and Lalia will be not only be missed individually but will be missed as a whole.
Lalia handled aging with grace and dignity and enjoyed life until the end. She was an incredibly strong and resilient woman but was also a kind and thoughtful person with a generous heart. Lalia was so proud of her family and she enjoyed watching her children grow up to become accomplished adults, knowing that they were an extension of her. She was known to protect them at any cost. Lalia’s loyalty was deeply felt by those close to her. Her determination to stay connected to those she loved was uncanny. She recently advanced her technological capabilities so she could FaceTime with her friends and family on a regular basis on her iPad.
Lalia will be deeply missed by her sons, Dennis and Stephen; and her daughter, Susan; daughters-in-law, Monica and Rebecca; grandsons, Jack, Scott, Spencer and Austin; her step-granddaughter, Melanie and her husband, Travis and their children, Aidan and Liam.