Andrew passed peacefully surrounded by his immediate family, parents, Jane and Iliff Peck, his sister, Alison Peck and her partner, Glenn Perry, and members of his L’Arche Toronto family.
For 21 years, Andrew was a well-loved and respected member of the L’Arche Toronto community at the Riverdale apartment, Simpson House, Gamble House, and Greenwood House. He was a long-term member of the Addus day program and a dedicated volunteer who was awarded The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal for his service.
Andrew was a kind, gentle and thoughtful man with a strong work ethic and a lively sense of humour. He was a quiet influencer with an innate skill of convening people and teaching important life lessons of love and compassion. He loved music, horseback riding, dogs, games and the family cottage. He particularly enjoyed the company of friends. He is sorely missed.
The words that Danielle Hidber and Shema Rolle (in writing) shared at the Celebration of Life for Andrew are below.
Words of Remembrance
By Shema Rolle
I had the privilege of living with and supporting Andrew for 8years. During that time, I discovered the depth of his adaptable, fun-loving, and courageous spirit, traits that truly defined him throughout his time with us.
I first met Andrew in the fall of 2012 when I moved into Gamble House. When I initially met him, what stood out to me was how tall he was and how quickly he moved. I remember times when I would go to his room to help him get prepared for his day program at Addus. I would encouragehim to go to the bathroom, leave him there for a minute or two, and by the time I returned, he was not there. I looked around the floor, no Andrew. When I did decide to look in his room there I found him – back in bed.
I lived with Andrew for a year at Gamble House. Sometime during that year, he transitioned from Addus to a home- based day program, and I was one of the individuals who supported him at home. Going for walks was something that we routinely did together as a house. Now that Andrew was home, he and I did lengthier walks. I quickly learned that sandals were not suitable footwear to use when walking with Andrew. I had to switch to sneakers because even though he would be walking, I found myself running trying to keep up with him.
Andrew lived at Gamble until his needs changed. Then he moved to Greenwood House which was a better fit for him. When he moved, I followed him. I believe that having familiar faces around him helped him with the transition. Andrew’s day program continued and that gave him more flexibility to connect with his family, his friends and the wider community.
Andrew loved his family, so we made an effort to visit them and make regular phone calls as well as video calls. During the initial stages of COVID, we had to get creative, so we would have drive by visits with the Pecks. And we all learned together how to navigate Zoom. Andrew started doing yoga with Alison via Zoom and eventually we invited the other core members at Greenwood to participate, which they enjoyed. Whenever the Pecks came to assist with the yardwork, Andrew was right there with them sweating profusely and getting dirty too, it was a true family affair.
Andrew was hardworking
Andrew was strong.
Andrew was resilient.
Whenever he did anything, he was thorough and gave his best, there were literal moments where he threw his entire body into an activity.
In his latter years, Andrew lived through and experienced some changes both physically and behaviorally. There were moments when it was difficult for him, yet he went through it. I am grateful that I had the privilege to support him, and he trusted me enough to do life with him. My friend…. you’ll be missed.
Words of Remembrance
By Danielle Hidber
In celebrating Andrew’s life, I would first like to acknowledge Andrew’s parents Jane and Iliff who were tireless advocates for Andrew to live his best life. I think of the care that went into making Andrew’s bedroom so nice. When you walked into his room, you felt right away that he was cherished. In addition to their support for Andrew, there was their support for so many core members and assistants. How many of us got a gift from Jane and Iliff on Christmas? Or how many of us were on holidays with Andrew when they would drop something off for us to share? Or how many of us spent time at their beloved cottage?
Andrew was also blessed by the beautiful friendship he had with his sister, Alison, who was a great support to him and the community in the final months of his life. Over the years we have such a beautiful relationship with the Peck family. Who always shared in Andrews’ journey in L’Arche.
Over the past two weeks, as I’ve reflected on Andrew’s life, especially the years we lived together at Gamble House, the word that keeps coming to me is balance and how Andrew had much to teach us about the importance of living a balanced life. Let me share some personal memories of Andrew and how he shared this balance with others.
When I began living with Andrew, he had already been living at L’Arche Toronto for about 10 years, first at the Riverdale apartment, then Simpson House before he moved to Gamble House where I was an assistant, and later House Leader. At that time, he was volunteering at the Alzheimer’s Society and working at Starbucks bringing home lovely teas every week, piles of tea! Andrew also had a lot of good relationships and connections at Addus, the day program he belonged to for many years.
I always admired Andrew’s desire to work. Whether it was bringing in the house garbage and recycling bins, or weeding out in the back garden with Julie, if you needed help in a task, Andrew always volunteered and said, “yes.” He was always willing and loved to help around the home.
At this time he was still very engaged in the community. I remember one of his birthdays -maybe it was his 40th – when April McConnell dressed up like Elvis. Andrew loved it. Another time, when we were on core member holidays together, we went go-karting. Andrew, who towered over us, was in a go-kart with an assistant who was much shorter than him. Seeing them side by side in the little car is a memory I cherish. I remember so many moments like that.
When I was house leader, Andrew often had the desire to join community events and be with people, but he couldn’t always do it physically when things got too much for him. So, we used an iPad. He was the first person in the community who connected digitally. We used to walk around a party with him on the iPad saying ‘hello’ to his friends and enjoy listening to the music.
I clearly remember the times when Andrew would first meet someone. He would just give you that handshake -with those amazing hands with those incredibly long fingers – and he would say, “Hi, I’m Andrew Peck.” It was such a beautiful introduction.
Then there was another side of Andrew that speaks to me of balance in life. Before I went to the hospital in the morning to say good-bye to Andrew, I had a hot chocolate at home. It was a special moment for me because every morning at Gamble House, Andrew started his day with a hot chocolate up in his room. I think it was something that Julie had introduced. For those of us who got to enjoy a hot chocolate with Andrew, it was a good way to start the day. It was a quiet moment between two people, just enjoying a hot chocolate.
I loved the times that I would be able to sit with Andrew in his room. He put on his records, and we would enjoy listening to the music together. He would call you to just be quiet with him, be in the moment and be present. He helped me find that balance in my life and we all need that balance in our lives. Andrew lived that really well.
Even after I left Gamble, Andrew would share this gift with me. When I was in college, he would come to my house once a week for lunch with an assistant named Nashma who spent time one-to-one with him during the day. They were casual moments and we didn’t need to say much, yet it was a way for us to continue our friendship at a time when my path in life was changing.
There were two special places where Andrew enjoyed expressing this balance in his life. One was when he went horseback riding. Andrew loved both the active side of riding as well as helping care for the horses, especially the times of quiet presence as he lost himself in brushing the horses, often putting them to sleep through his firm, gentle touch.
And of course there was the family cottage, which was Andrew’s special place. It was a place where he could live the balance between being active – out on the boat, or on the mower, or social time with family and friends – and the more quiet, reflective time connecting to nature and simply being present to other people and to himself.
At the end of Andrew’s life illness caused him to face new difficulties but we can be consoled knowing that Andrew experienced deep peace, connection, and joy in his life. And those of us who knew and loved Andrew we can follow his lead to find balance in our own lives.
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