Dr. Laryssa Whittaker Laryssa Karen Whittaker went home to be with her Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, on Monday, August 25, 2025, in London, England, following a courageous battle with cancer. She passed peacefully in a beautiful care home, with her beloved friend, Dr. Jan Kosecki by her side. He was a steadfast companion throughout her studies at Royal Holloway and in the years that followed as a colleague and flatmate, along with various others for 11 years. Also present at her passing was her friend, Ashley Hunka. Born June 6, 1971, and raised in the Marwayne area, Laryssa graduated from Marwayne High School with Honors in 1989, serving as class valedictorian. Laryssa had a love of learning and excelled in all she endeavored. She attended Lakeland College for 2 years in the University Transfer program graduating in 1991, before moving to Regina, Saskatchewan, to earn a Bachelor of Church Music from Canadian Bible College in 1995. While working for Credit Union Central for six years following, she completed a Royal Conservatory of Music diploma in piano performance and taught private piano lessons and theory lessons. In 2001, Laryssa moved to Edmonton, joining the University of Alberta’s Office of External Relations, while continuing to teach piano privately and at the Alberta College Conservatory of Music. She pursued further studies part-time, earning a Bachelor of Arts. Laryssa then completed her Master of Arts in Music Ethnomusicology in 2010. Laryssa’s academic journey then took her to London, England, where she undertook doctoral studies at Royal Holloway, University of London. Her research, which included fieldwork in South Africa, focused on music outreach programs and their role in socioeconomic development. Laryssa was awarded her Doctor of Philosophy in Music in 2015. Following her doctorate, Laryssa served at the University of London in multiple capacities, including as an Academic Writing and Research Skills Teaching Fellow and a lecturer in the Departments of Music and Modern Languages. In recent years, she was a research assistant and lecturer in Audience Authropology at Royal Holloway. She was deeply respected by her colleagues and students, and she cherished the friendships she formed in England, which she came to call home. Laryssa is lovingly remembered by her parents, Don & Linda Whittaker, of Leduc, AB; her brother, Gordon and his wife Lindsay, and her precious niece, Maisie, of Leduc; her aunt Elaine Bills of Strathmore; cousins Tanis (Ryan) Bowd, Warren (Rebecca) Bills & family and Trevor (Dawnelle) Bills & family; aunt Lana (Heraclio) Medina of Fort Worth, Texas; uncle Ed (Lee) of Vermilion; uncle Jeff (Julie) Bills & family of Edmonton; aunt Roberta Whittaker & family, Crossfield & uncle Earle Whittaker & family, Calgary. Laryssa was pre-deceased by the love of her life and faithful companion for 18 years, her cat, ‘Gray’; her paternal grandparents Charles & Grace Whittaker, her maternal grandparents William & Mary Karen Bills, her uncle Dale (Roberta) Whittaker, her aunt Carol (Earle) Whittaker, her uncle Ken (Elaine) Bills and her aunt Brenda (Ed) Lee. A private family tribute will be held at a later date.
