Lois from the very popular trio, Sharon, Lois and Bram

Lois Lilienstein: A Skinnamarink Legacy
Discovered at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Toronto

On a damp walk through Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Toronto, I came across the grave of Lois Lilienstein, one-third of the beloved children’s music trio, Sharon, Lois & Bram.

Formed in the late 1970s, the trio made their debut with the album One Elephant, Deux Éléphants in 1978, which became a classic in Canadian children’s music. Over their career, they would go on to win three Juno Awards, becoming household names for families across the country.

From 1984 to 1989, they starred in The Elephant Show on CBC, a joyful mix of music, skits, and storytelling. With 65 episodes and the unforgettable tuba-voiced Elephant character, each show ended with the timeless tune “Skinnamarink”—a song that still echoes in the memories of generations.

Though Lois was born in Chicago, she made Canada her home and became a cherished figure in Canadian culture. After the passing of her husband, she stopped touring in 2000, but returned for a final public performance in Toronto in 2014, a heartfelt moment for longtime fans.

Lois Lilienstein passed away in Toronto on April 22, 2015, at the age of 78.

The inscription on the grave marker: ‘Susser Dudelsackpfeifer ‘ appears to be German, meaning, ‘sweet bagpiper’.