Dec 16, 1947 – May 3, 2026
On the evening of Sunday, May 3, 2026, at Mariposa House Hospice in Orillia, Anita passed away peacefully at age 78. She was a warm-hearted and smart mom, sister, cousin, and friend who brought light to many lives. Since moving to Lagoon City in Brechin back in 1999, she adored her little house by the canal-the trees and birds around it-and decorated it with colourful things that made it feel special. A great host at heart, she loved having company over for relaxed evenings on her patio-though preferably without too many pesky bugs around.
Anita really enjoyed laughter and good conversation. She kept up with current events and politics eagerly, tackled the New York Times crossword puzzle regularly, loved family gatherings, music sessions, card games, art shows and reading books. And later on in life she got hooked on watching basketball on TV.
She graduated from Agincourt Collegiate before heading off to York University where she earned an Honours BA in History and Sociology. Later she went to University of Waterloo for an MA in Medieval History. She became a young mom when her daughter Corinna was born in 1970; Anita was just 23 then. In Corinna’s first year they even lived out of a tent together with her late husband Ralph Dahlin for several weeks in Wawa, Ontario. After that came her start as a journalist at the Sault Ste. Marie Daily Star where she sharpened her writing skills-mostly typed though since no one could really read her handwriting (sometimes not even herself!).
Afterward Anita moved into roles of increasing responsibility at the Ontario Human Rights Commission including being Regional Manager for Southwestern Region based out of London. She handled the commission’s very first sexual harassment case and also led their initial industry-wide investigation into systemic discrimination issues. Creating policy guidelines and carefully managing relationships with community groups, businesses and politicians were part of her work too. Over more than two decades she worked as a mediator, investigator and trainer focusing on human rights concerns along with workplace discrimination and conflict resolution matters. Whether leading training sessions or engaging with groups like OPP officers or Ontario Northland engineers she had a way to hold attention effortlessly.
Anita was daughter to Robert Samuel (Sam) Levine-a longtime double bass player with Toronto Symphony Orchestra who also served as President Emeritus of Toronto Musicians’ Association-and his wife Tula Marlin whom he married for nearly six decades before they both passed away. She leaves behind her daughter Corinna living now in Puerto Vallarta Mexico; brother Mike along with sister-in-law Rosie from Toronto; nephew Matt Levine plus family near Aurora; as well as numerous cousins scattered across Toronto, Hamilton Ottawa & the US. She was dearly loved by “suegra” to Ricardo Verduzco aka Wolfy (her late son-in-law who died in 2020).
The family wants to thank everyone at Mariposa House for their care during this difficult time – especially Dr Anita Grieg from North York – plus all her friends from Lagoon City & those “mahjong ladies” here in Orillia who stayed close by bringing food picking up at airport rearranging furniture shopping helping watch over Anita right through till the end: Raven Diana Marilyn Kaye Chris Shannon Karen Sharon -and Monique who kept everything running smoothly all the way from Oakville.
Friends are welcome to visit on Sunday May 24th starting at 1 p. m., with service beginning promptly at 1:30 p. m., followed by refreshments afterward at Carson Funeral Homes – L Doolittle Chapel located at 54 Coldwater St E., Orillia (705)326-3595.
