Aleksa (Alexandra) Harkness
It is with deep sorrow and abundant love that the family of Alexandra Harkness announces her passing on June 17, 2025. Through her courageous journey through cancer, surgery and radiation therapy, Aleksa remained steadfast in her lifelong qualities: being relentlessly positive, full of grace, kind, generous, caring, compassionate, humorous, playful, creative and curious – guided always by her deep faith and her enormous heart.
Aleksa’s lifelong passion for social justice was driven by her faith and her deep care for others. She was loving and accepting of others exactly as they were, without judgement.
She was brilliantly creative – working in fabric arts, quilting, paper-making, dyes and inks, graphic design, and always making beautiful hand-made cards for loved ones. A lover of the written word and poetry, she was also a beautiful writer – expressing herself and sharing her wisdom and care via weekly e-newsletters and messages.
Aleksa’s life in the Christian community and her commitment to the radical love at the heart of Jesus’ teachings informed her political and social activism that marked her life from a young age. She was a cherished and active member of the James Bay United Church community, and a beloved part of the volunteer family that stewards the church’s thrift shop.
Music was a source of joy, inspiration and connection for all of Aleksa’s life. Recently she wrote, “music was the best way for Aleksa to enter into the Great Mystery.”
Aleksa and Judy formed a partnership that lasted nearly 42 years. They lived and worked in Vancouver, New Westminster and Victoria, had jobs that supported the wider community, followed their individual and shared passions of music and creative arts and faith and justice issues, and opened their home to family and friends.
Aleksa raised her son Sean with exuberant, unconditional love – and instilled in him her passion for justice; a love of music, the arts, reading and poetry; and the desire to live a life of service, rooted in compassion.
Aleksa is loved, fiercely missed, and survived by her partner Judy, son Sean (Shawna), brother Jim (Noreen), niece Chloe and son James, nephew Angus (Alli); her dog Quinn; and a wide, wide circle of friends.
Aleksa is pre-deceased by her sister Patty, her mother Grace and father Jim, her sister-in-law Jaclyn, nephew-in-law Clancy, and her brother-in-law Richard.
Many people’s lives have been deeply affected by Aleksa’s warmth and love, her grace, her vulnerability, her laughter, her wading into courageous conversations, her bold stance in support of the people and matters she cared about.
A service to mourn her death and give thanks for her life will be held on Saturday, July 19th, 2pm at James Bay United Church, 511 Michigan St. Victoria. Accessible also by livestream https://youtube.com/live/BEp7pDx8QV4?feature=share
Memories of Aleksa and condolences to her family may be left below.
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I knew Aleksa through my cousin Judy, through their long wonderful relationship.
Aleksa seemed so smart, generous and funny!She had a heart of gold.
I loved the essay’s she wrote in the Newsletter for the shop she volunteered in. I was able to read them on my computer, so I felt like I was there and walking around the shop and meeting people and shopping!!
Aleksa had a gift to write………………
I know she was loved by all and I was glad to know her.
Rose Perry
USA
What a sensitive and beautiful summary of an amazing life. Judy and Alexsa touched our lives deeply in the time we spent in Victoria. She helped me pick out some great clothes I still enjoy wearing from her beloved thrift shop. Even when we returned to Ottawa I asked to be on the thrift shop mailing list as I so enjoyed her delightful stories.
I love the photo with her amazing smile, and I love the obituary which so mirrors the Alexsa I came to know and love.
Our hearts are with Judy as she grieves a wonderful partner. Know that you have our healing prayers Judy.
Sharon & Howard (from Ottawa)
What I shall miss about Aleksa…. her compassion, her anger at social injustice, and her fight for it, her ability to laugh at herself, her love for Judy and Quinn, her deep yet open to discussion faith, and her sense of humour. Aleksa and Judy both have such an incredible gift of laughter….it can fill a room and make you feel good, and I imagine now that Aleksa is filling the universe with both her laughter and her voice!
I met Aleksa almost a decade ago and I’m so privileged to have got to know her as I did. An amazing person who shared the same world view as me. More than once we ranted together about the state of the world. She sought social justice at every turn and I truly admired her for that. Such a spirited woman. But she was always willing to share a laugh and have fun – Judy, Aleksa, Anne and I had such good times together. I shall miss her dearly.
Shall miss Aleksa soooo much. Her gift of laughter and edgy humour shall be missed by all of us who knew her.
Gary
I miss hearing Aleksa’s voice and laughter ring out through the thrift store as her joy and energy preceded her down the stairs! Aleksa was so passionate and determined in her work for social justice. I worked with her on the James Bay refugee committee as we struggled to bring a Syrian refugee here. We were blessed with not only Leyla but also her husband and two little Canadian boys. My heart aches for Judy.
We first met Aleksa and Judy at the JBUC online AGM in 2020 and felt an immediate and heartfelt connection. Aleksa’s radiant warmth, her steadfast dedication to justice and her deep spiritual grounding were evident from the start. Her tireless advocacy for refugees and her unwavering commitment to 2SLGBTQIA+ rights have been a continuing source of inspiration. Aleksa was a force of nature—bold, kind and full of grace.
We are especially moved by the love Aleksa and Judy shared for one another as well as the beautiful bond they shared with their son, Sean—so clearly a relationship rooted in joy, deep love and shared values.
Aleksa’s legacy lives on through Judy, Sean and through the countless lives Aleksa touched, including ours. Our hearts are with all who carry Aleksa’s memory with love. May that memory continue to be a blessing.