Orjan Bengt Carlson died at home on August the 21st with his wife and children at his bedside following a recent diagnosis of cancer.While his passing was sudden and difficult for friends and family to comprehend, we find comfort in knowing that this angel has returned home to a place of peace and love in the hands of God and in the company of those that have gone before him.

Orjan was happily married to Alfonsina Carlson and together, they celebrated 50 years of marriage in April 2020. Orjan had a son, Alexander, who was devoted to lovingly caring for his father during his difficult final weeks of life. He also had a daughter, Erika, who is Orjan’s biggest fan and a mother to Orjan’s two beautiful granddaughters, Emma and Audrey whom he loved more than anything in this world. And finally, he had a son-in-law, Nelson, who shared Orjan’s love of cooking and good food.

Orjan was a proud Canadian who immigrated over 50 years ago from his birthplace, Sweden. He always considered Canada his home but never forgot his roots and nurtured his connections with family in Sweden. Elsa is his deceased mother and Einar is his deceased father. He was one of six children in the Nordell Carlson family, with one surviving sibling living in Sweden, Solveig, whom he would have long conservations about politics, family, and dreams and hopes for the future up until his final weeks of life. It is with certainty that he has reconnected with his two brothers, Torbjorn and Arne, and two sisters, Ingela and Inger, and mother and father up in heaven.

This wonderful man was an extraordinary human being. Orjan had so many beautiful qualities and many would say that he touched their lives in ways that will never be forgotten. He was a gentle, generous, and kind soul, with unconditional love for friends, family, and perfect strangers. There wasn’t anything that he couldn’t or wouldn’t do for others. Figuratively speaking, he would always try his best to fix what was broken and nothing was impossible in his eyes.

Orjan thoroughly enjoyed work and his clients, founding Urban Ecosystems in 1993. Orjan was a consulting engineer with most of his work and projects centered in the GTA, but also some consulting work conducted abroad. He enjoyed applying his business skills and knowledge to help on the Board of Directors of his residence on Lakeshore to improve people’s community and bring people together.

As a good friend said shortly after my father’s passing, “Orjan may have passed away but his spirit will always be with us”. How very true!

Remember the countless wonderful memories, his smile, his hugs and kisses, and his love of life. Remember his values and how he exemplified courage, goodness, and love. We are left with a beautiful legacy, and he would want us to live our lives to the fullest. God bless our dear friend, father, husband, brother, son, and grandfather, Orjan Carlson.

Those who wish to send flowers, please consider making a donation instead to one of Orjan’s favourite charities, The Salvation Army (donations can be made through the "Donations" tab of this page) and SOS Children's Villages of Canada (using the following link): http://secure.soschildrenvillages.ca/donate

Visitation:

Turner & Porter Yorke Chapel - Thursday, August 26 - 5:00-8:00 p.m.
Turner & Porter Yorke Chapel - Friday, August 27 5:00-7:00 p.m.

*Also, please note that the family is planning a Celebration of Life in September with details to follow.