Marisa Koyata: An Inspirational Baker

More than 25 years ago, following the abrupt end of her marriage, Marisa Koyata was left to raise three daughters – all under the age of six – on her own. Having previously left her job as a court clerk with the City of Toronto to care for her young family, Marisa suddenly found herself starting over, alone. Forced to come up with ways to help make ends meet, she started baking.

“I started with wedding cakes to bring in some extra income,” said Marisa, who has been the Funeral Services Clerk at Meadowvale Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Centres since 2023. “I baked trays of cookies for my children’s school. Many of the teachers were supportive and would place orders for Easter and Christmas. A lot of it was word of mouth.”

From there, Marisa started hosting high teas.

“As I began to get a little stronger on my own, I joined a women’s networking group, and we had monthly meetings in a tearoom. I fell in love with it – the concept, the décor, the linens, the china, the elegance and beauty,” said Marisa. “That’s when I started hosting teas in my home.”

These special events became a comforting place where small groups of women could decompress and talk about anything they wanted. As a woman who always had so much on her shoulders, Marisa knew how much these teas meant to the community. And then they started to grow, which is why she began donating a portion of ticket sales to charity.

“I’m so proud that I can make a small difference by sharing my gift, my creativity, my love of community and to be able to give back to the universe because I’ve been helped so much in my life,” said Marisa, who is known for her scones and her mile high apple pies. “It’s important to give back whether it’s in a big way or a small way. It doesn’t even have to be monetary – it can just be a gift of time.”

Amongst the numerous teas she has hosted, Marisa has helped raised $18,000 for the Kay Blair Hospice and close to $3,000 for the Wellspring Cancer Centre. She recently held a tea for her colleagues at Meadowvale for no other reason than to uplift them because of the difficult work they do every day. It was very well received.

Marisa’s own work at Meadowvale, of course, is also very well received because, not surprisingly, she likes to go above and beyond when helping families at work.

“I believe in the best possible customer service that I can provide. I’ve had family members come back, give me a hug and say it’s been so good talking to you,” said Marisa. “I know

when someone just needs a hug and that extra bit of comfort. Even over the phone, instead of my call being a quick five minutes, it turns into 15 because I will always listen.”

Marisa is a remarkable woman whose strength and resilience continue to inspire everyone she meets, especially the three daughters she raised on her own. Although they proudly call themselves “tea snobs,” they’ve all inherited her talent for baking and, more importantly, her unwavering spirit. Marisa has instilled in them the values that matter most: the belief that there is always light at the end of the tunnel, and the importance of community, friendship and giving back.