Margaret (Rea) Harvey

I’ll miss my Granny, her positivity and support for her family will always be remembered.

Her laugh and her smile will always be etched in my memory. Her strength and resolve have inspired me and everyone around her.

My favorite thing about my Granny was her sharp wit that she had all through her life. Her observations and opinions would usually leave you with a big smile on your face and with a lot more wisdom than you had before. She knew what to say, and when to say it, which is a skill in itself.

Her love for her friends and family, especially her grandchildren will never be forgotten. I know how much she cared and loved us all. Her leaving us will leave a hole that will never completely be filled again. Because no one else could replace what she has given us all.

So let’s celebrate together her long life and accomplishments. My Granny would want it that way.

Thank you

From daughter, Elaine Harvey:

Margaret Harvey - Eulogy

Margaret was born in Dumbarton, Scotland to Johnny and Ellen Rea, and was the eldest of sisters Bunty and Kathleen. Being a young person in the 1930s and 40s meant playing board games, going to Church, visiting relatives, going on picnics and to movies, and hiding in a bomb shelter during WWII.

At 24 years of age, Margaret, being the pioneer she was, emigrated on her own to Montreal, where she lived with a dear aunt and uncle. One night, playing Rummoli with them and their neighbours, Margaret met her future husband, Hedley, who had just retired from the Royal Navy in England. Margaret was terrible at Rummoli, and Hedley was even worse, so it resulted in lots of laughs, and a romance.

After their marriage, Margaret and Hedley went back to Scotland, where son Robert and then daughter Elaine were born. They loved being around Margaret's family, as they were close to her parents, and sisters, who had started families. However, the sound of the steel mills eventually called to them, and this time, emigration was to Hamilton, Ontario. There, daughter Linda completed the family.

Margaret spent her days in their lovely family home on Chestnut Ave, raising her three children, and being a homemaker: cooking, baking, doing laundry, cleaning, gardening, knitting, making her daughters' clothes and visiting with her close friends Ruth and Jack White and other neighbours on the street. At this time of year, she would have harvested the peaches from the tree in our backyard, canning them or making peach jam. She became a member of the Catholic Women's League in 1957 and regularly attended Mass. Idyllic summers meant many beach days and camping trips.

Eleven years after moving to Hamilton, tragedy struck when Hedley passed away at age 47 after a two year battle with cancer. Margaret was left with three children, aged 14, 11 and 6. Despite her grief, the warrior in Margaret came out. Not only did she continue all the activities and hobbies from before, she got a job at Sears to support her children, as in 1967 there was no Canada Pension, and Hedley hadn't worked in Canada long enough to receive a Stelco Pension. In addition, she took driving lessons, and took over driving Hedley's Austin, before eventually buying a Ford Pinto. These years for her were very difficult, yet very happy. Unfortunately, 20 years after losing her husband, Margaret lost her only son, Robert. Her faith in God enabled her to mourn yet carry on with her selfless life. She remains close to daughter-in-law Susan.

Margaret was blessed with four grandchildren, Terésa (and eventually husband Ted Swift), Carl, Alex who she always called Sandy, and Ian. Terésa and Ted gave Margaret the gift of a great-grandchild, Tristan Swift.

Margaret was offered a package from Sears when she was 63 years old, and happily took it. By then Robert had passed, and Elaine and Linda were out of the house, so she was able to sit back and enjoy life more. She enjoyed travelling both with family and with friends. One time while visiting her sisters in England, where they had immigrated, Margaret and youngest sister Kathleen went to check out our cousin Teresa's new house. At one point, Teresa couldn't find her Auntie Margaret. After a search, she found her upstairs putting together a bed. Margaret loved to baby-sit because she loved the grandchildren so much and she also loved 'babysitting' Elaine's dog, Oliver. During the week, she would walk to Hamilton market for some supplies, and if there was an ethnic vegetable she wasn't familiar with, she would not hesitate to ask the stall holder how it was cooked and what it tasted like. One year, Margaret took oil painting lessons. Linda and I each have one of her works of art. Mine is a painting of Coote's Paradise that she painted from a photograph I took. Another year, she took a Japanese cooking course, and at the end, prepared a Japanese feast for the family. She also spent every Friday cooking in the kitchen at cousin Jim's Scottish pub. Margaret loved spending time with her sons-in-law, Kevin Williams and Roger Connelly, and loved to tease them.

Margaret sold her house and moved into two seniors apartment buildings. First, to First Place, and then to the Good Shepherd Bishop Tonnos building. Margaret was able to spend more time doing what she loved. She became close friends with the late Fathers Bill O'Brien and Mike, to the point she even laundered their stoles for them. She visited the ill with the Fathers to pray during the Anointing of the Sick. She participated in many activities within the buildings. Never having idle hands, Margaret, while watching TV, knitted mittens and hats which were donated to underprivileged children. While at the Good Shepherd, she became close friends with many of her neighbours, and enjoyed attending Mass celebrated in the building by Father Yvon, where she did the first reading.

Margaret's family, spiritual family, friends and neighbours were all blessed to have known her. She left an indelible mark on each of our lives, and will always be with us.

At this time, we would like to thank a few people:

Thank you to everyone who supported Linda, me and our families during the past three and a half weeks, with your phone calls, messages and visits. It meant a lot to us.

To everyone who attended the visitation and funeral service and to everyone here. Just in case I miss anyone, I want to thank everyone in the universe.

To Father Tony for the beautiful Mass, and to his assistant Rita, who helped us to make the service personalized for our Mother.

To the Pall Bearers: Grandsons Carl Harvey, Alex Williams, and Ian Williams. Great-grandson Tristan Swift. Step-grandson Spencer Connelly. And Victor Ceranic, husband to cousin and goddaughter, Michele.

To the readers in the church, granddaughter Teresa Swift, goddaughter Michele Ceranic, and friend Laurie White.

To the very special altar servers, my granddaughters Ava and Lola.

To the ladies of the Catholic Women's League.

To Father Han, from the Our Lady of Vietnam and Holy Family parishes, who quickly responded when called at a time Mum needed him.

To Father Yvon from the Good Shepherd for being a spiritual leader for our Mum, and for his visits to the hospital which resulted in providing Mum with a sense of peace and restfulness.

To Sister Rita and to Pat Finnegan who came at the speed of light to see Mum, and to take over the tasks of seeing to Mum's spiritual needs, and who kept in touch with us during Mum's short illness.

To Mrs Ruth White, who remained a close friend of Mum's for 62 years, after meeting the day they both moved into houses across the road from each other on Chestnut Ave. And to her late husband Jack, and to their children for including Mum in their families...Brian, the late Wayne, Kim, Debbie and Laurie.

To Jim Kennedy, his wife Eileen, and family, Michele and Vic, Dawn, and Jackie and Kristy. You were there for Mum and she was there for you. And we are grateful you kept her cooking in the pub's kitchen, because we all benefited from that.

To neighbours from Chestnut Ave, First Place and Good Shepherd, for your friendship and love.

To the hard working PSW's from Assisted Living, who with their loving care allowed Mum to stay in her apartment and be independent. Even when Mum was ill, she looked forward to SamSam being available to push her around in a wheelchair for the rest of her life. You ladies are angels on earth and Linda and I will never forget your love for our mother and hers for you. Thank you. Samsam, Aisha, Love, Patrice and all the others.

Last but not least, we send thanks to my Mother's family who are overseas. My mother's sister Bunty, and our Kane and Doherty cousins have been very supportive to us during the last few weeks. Our cousin Anthony, described Mum best, and I quote:

"To us over the pond she always had that touch of frontierswoman charisma, bit Annie Oakley or Calamity Jane (without the drinking habit of course). A resolute, strong and bold woman who possessed the bravery to set off on that Canadian odyssey all those years ago, who despite all the personal tragedies that you guys have had to endure, always demonstrated great positivity and that wonderful west Scottish down to earth manner. She deserves a good rest."

* * * * * * * * * *

Margaret passed peacefully in her 94th year at the Hamilton General Hospital on September 10, 2018.

She was surrounded by the love of her family: daughters Elaine Harvey (Roger Connelly) and Linda Williams (Kevin), her grandchildren Terésa Swift (Ted), Carl Harvey, Alex Williams and Ian Williams (Kayla Summerhayes) and great-grandson Tristan Swift. Loved sister of Bunty Kane (the late Don)(England), dear cousin of Jim Kennedy (Eileen) and family, mother-in-law of Susan Campbell (NL) and long-time best friend of Ruth White. Margaret was the dear aunt of nieces and nephews in Canada, UK and NZ. We take comfort that she is safe in the arms of our Dad Hedley (1967) and our brother Bobby (1987), her sister Kathleen Doherty (and husband Sam) and her parents John and Ellen Rea.

The family sends sincere thanks to all the staff at the General, 7-South, for their kindness and care.

Visitation will be held at the Marlatt Funeral Home, 615 Main Street East (east of Sanford Ave.), Hamilton, on Wednesday, September 12th from 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. Prayers at the funeral home Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, 440 King Street East, Hamilton on Thursday, September 13th, 2018 at 10:30 a.m. Cremation to follow.

If desired, please make a donation to the charity of your choice.