The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) and the community of Leaside High School are grieving the sudden and heartbreaking loss of Finola Fagan, a cherished Spanish and French teacher, who passed away unexpectedly this week.
Known for her infectious enthusiasm and deep love for languages, Fagan inspired generations of students to explore the beauty of communication and cultural understanding. Her teaching went far beyond vocabulary and grammar — she encouraged her students to see language as a bridge to the world, helping them appreciate diverse traditions and perspectives.
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Colleagues describe Finola as a compassionate, creative, and deeply dedicated educator whose classroom radiated warmth and positivity. Her lessons were not just about mastering a language but about learning to connect with others with empathy and curiosity.
Outside of school, she was a devoted mother and grandmother, known for her kindness, patience, and generosity. Friends and family remember her as a woman who poured love into everything she did — from nurturing her students’ confidence to caring deeply for those closest to her.
In a statement, the Toronto District School Board extended heartfelt condolences to her family, colleagues, and students, recognizing her profound impact on the school community. Grief counseling and emotional support have been made available at Leaside High School as students and staff cope with this tremendous loss.
Finola Fagan’s legacy as a teacher, mentor, and friend will continue to live on through the lives she touched, the lessons she shared, and the passion for language and learning she instilled in so many.
Funeral and memorial arrangements will be announced at a later date.
My beautiful sister Finola was beloved by her many nieces and nephews, and a mentor to her students.
She was not a mother nor a grandmother.