Wendy Haggart

Died February 10, 2014 on her 90th birthday at Oakwood Terrace in Dartmouth. Beloved wife of Allistair (Al) and mother of Elizabeth and Melanie. Daughter of Andrew McKeand and Else Isobel Hannay, of Airlies, Wigtownshire, Scotland.

Born in Rangoon, Burma, and raised in Wigtownshire, Scotland, Wendy attended Cheltenham Ladies College in England from the age of 13. She trained as a teacher in Gloucester and taught in various schools in England before emigrating to Canada. She met Al while teaching at the Air Force base in Cold Lake, Alberta. They were married in Wetaskawin, Alberta and brought up their two daughters while stationed at various Air Force bases in Ontario, Europe and Nova Scotia. Wendy and Al retired to their home overlooking Bell Lake in Dartmouth in 1986 and spent 23 happy years there before moving to Parkland at the Lakes and subsequently Oakwood Terrace.

Wendy was an energetic and spirited woman who lived by her own terms. She was a fiercely devoted mother who was determined that her daughters would become educated and independent-minded women. In her younger years she skied, rode horses, played many sports and earned her private pilot’s license. She danced her entire life. Wendy loved animals, particularly dogs, and was rarely without milk bones in her jacket pocket. She enjoyed being outdoors and travelling and always wanted to see what was around the next corner. Al’s two postings in Europe gave Wendy a chance to explore her interests in history and culture, and they toured extensively in the small camper trailers of which she was very fond. The summer cottage that Al and she built near the beach at Chance Harbour in Pictou County, was very important to her, and they both loved being on their sailboat. Wendy was rarely without a good book and often read with a map nearby to follow the characters’ progress. She had fond memories of her Scottish home, Airlies and spoke of it often. She was a welcoming hostess and kept family traditions and connections strong, corresponding faithfully with family and friends. Wendy volunteered throughout her life, canvassing for UNICEF and other charities, working at the Friendly Neighbours in Greenwood in the early 1970s, the Seniors Employment Bureau in Ottawa and in Dartmouth at the Woodlawn food bank, Meals on Wheels, and in various roles as a member of Iona Church.

Wendy was predeceased by her parents and her beloved brother Peter McKeand. In addition to Allistair, Elizabeth and Melanie, she is survived by her sister Margaret Cunningham (David), East Lothian, Scotland and brother–in-law Graeme Haggart (Nesta), Moncton and many nieces and nephews and their families in Scotland, England, Canada and abroad.

Visitation will take place at AL Mattatall Funeral Home, 217 Portland Street, Dartmouth on Friday February 14 from 2 to 4 pm and 6:30 to 8:30 pm. The funeral service will be held on Saturday February 15th at 1 pm, at Iona Presbyterian Church, 90 Lucien Drive, Dartmouth, the Rev. Dr. Cynthia Chenard presiding. Interment will take place on June 21, 2014 at the Church Brook cemetery in Little Harbour, Nova Scotia followed by a celebration of Wendy’s life.

Family flowers only. Donations may be made in Wendy’s memory to Bide-A-While animal shelter, UNICEF Canada, or the Maritime Parkinsons Society.

The family would like to thank the many kind staff of Oakwood Terrace and Parkland at the Lakes for their wonderful care of Wendy in recent years.

To view or place an online message of condolence please visit www.mattatallfuneralhome.com