Louella Sturdy

Louella Sturdy, 98, of Toronto, Ontario, passed away on August 28, 2025 just 6 weeks shy of her 99th birthday.

Her father was Oswald Crawford Sturdy who lived from 1895 to 1946. Her mother, Margaret Cameron Anderson, lived from 1896 to 1981. Family and friends were deeply important to Louella, and she will especially be remembered by cousins Robert and Jean Anderson, Earle and Isabelle Haslette, Bruce Anderson, Wendy Sutey, and Patti Clement.

Louella was born between the wars and raised during the Great Depression in Milton, Ontario by her grandmother. Louella’ s mother, Margaret, lived in Toronto where she found work and she visited Louella as often as she could. Louella learned to be pragmatic, frugal and sensible and these were qualities she displayed for the rest of her life.

A bright student with a keen interest in mathematics, Louella was advised to pursue languages which she was told was a more sensible choice for a woman. Louella studied Latin and French at Victoria College, University of Toronto. Upon graduating, Louella’s mother, Margaret, tried to help her daughter to find a job and asked a friend, Peggy Tenenbaum, if she could assist. Peggy was working with Margaret as a retail clerk at Eatons to pay for the education of her young husband, Bora Laskin. Through this connection Louella gained entry into the field of law.

Louella joined Osgoode in 1948 as the General Secretary to the faculty. In 1957, Louella became the Registrar, a position she held with distinction until her retirement in 1991. For over forty-three years, Louella was a central figure at the Law School, shaping the student experience and setting a standard for professionalism. Thousands of students passed through Osgoode without knowing that Louella was the person responsible for all aspects of their student life at law school. Her legacy will live on through the Louella Sturdy Bursary for law students.

Louella’s colleagues have described Louella as the chocolate chip in the cookie, as being steady despite any unsteadiness going on around her and being the quiet place whenever there was a storm. Louella Sturdy was a generous supporter of Osgoode students and faithfully and selflessly dedicated herself to the law school and its students for 43 years. Louella did her job as best she could within the circumstances. She watched and made note but she did not hold resentments nor biases. In recognition for her work at York University, Louella was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Law, an exceptionally rare achievement for a university administrator.

After retiring, Louella immersed herself in the senior community in her Etobicoke neighbourhood where she made new friends and pursued her interests which included crossword puzzles, gardening and watching The Young and the Restless and Jeopardy. And Louella never stopped being a loyal fan of her beloved Blue Jays. The final years of her life were spent at The Annex Retirement Home in Toronto where she was well cared for. Louella died peacefully at Mt Sinai hospital in her sleep.