Lysa Lash

By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

An emotional ceremony was held recently at Hampstead Park in the presence of family and friends and members of Hampstead staff to dedicate a bench to the memory of former resident Joanna Barcessat, described as a “radiant beacon of light” who passed away in November 2021 in an accident in Lachine.

Barcessat, 52, an entrepreneur and mother who was born and raised in the town, was cycling when she was involved in a collision with a car Oct. 27. She died of her injuries six days after the accident took place.

The inscription on the bench says, “for Joanna, always in our hearts, always in our thoughts. With eternal love from her family and friends.” Another message said that it is “clear to everyone in Hampstead that she touched countless lives. Joanna was a radiant beacon of light and hope within our community.”

Lysa Lash, Barcessat’s friend for 35 years, told The Suburban that “in order to honour Joanna in the best way I thought possible, I thought of a bench in beautiful sunshine, a place where we could all come together.

“Joanna was a community-spirited woman with friends from all different communities. This is a place where we can share her spirit and feel good…. She loved nature, she was a ray of sunshine. I just feel that by sitting here, we can speak to her, feel the sun on our face and connect in a beautiful place with greenery, in nature.”

The bench is located near Queen Mary Road, facing the park’s baseball field.

“The location has good memories, and it’s easily accessible. She used to watch her son play baseball here.” n