I only just read Twobsbob's query re the exact location of where the Grand Duchess passed away, and I hope that I am not too late with this info?
There has been considerable confusion about this, which I would be delighted to clarify.
The specific address is 716 Gerrard Street East in Toronto. This was originally the left half of a mirror imaged semi-detached second Empire style house built in Toronto in the late 1800's. Sometime in the 1940's as the previously residiential Gerrard Street became more commercialized, the owner removed the porches, and built out over the front yard to the sidewalk creating two storefronts on the main floor only, retaining the mansard roofed second floor master bedroom with a bay window overlooking the roof of this newer addition.This feature is still clearly visible in the photos in "The Last Grand Duchess" as well as in current Google Street Pics (or by simply standing across the street and looking up) The property and building are quite deep, and even with the front section converted to retail, it still left a lot of a space in the rear and above.
At the time of the Grand Duchess's passing in 1960, the left half (716) was still a Beauty Salon operated by the family who had looked after her, while the right half (718) was a barber shop. By the time Ian Vorres took the photograph featured in his book in 1964, the family had closed the salon (removing the signage) but remained living in the rather substantial attached residence until they sold the building in the late 1970's. Since then, the barber shop in the right half (718) has has, coincidentally, become a become a Beauty Salon, (which is what seems to be causing the confusion!) whereas the left side is now Dragonair Travel. The neighbourhood has changed in character and is now predominantly Korean. There was originally a secondary entrance into the residence and access to the rather handsome garden from the west side, but that is now gone, totally obliterated by a new commercial building. Grand Duchess Olga passed away in that upper front bedroom. Her bed was placed against the west wall, so that she was bathed in the autumn sunshine every day until the early afternoon coming in through the large bay window.
You also mentioned an interest in visiting HIH's burial place. It is very easy to get to and is approximately a ten minute walk from Sheppard subway station on the Yonge Street line in North York, a suburb of Toronto. Walk straight north from the subway exit on Yonge Street for three blocks to North York Blvd. Turn left and follow the road around the concert hall straight into the main entrance gates of the vast York Cemetery following the main allee. Keep walking west until you reach the massive war cenotaph in the middle of the avenue (and the cemetery). Turn right and walk a few hundred metres north where you will will see the huge stone cross marking her grave directly in front of you where the lane ends. It is so large that you can see the shadow it casts in the Google Maps image. There is a bronze plaque commemorating her superimposed over a bas-relief Imperial eagle, in front of it
