Margaret McIntosh Duligal

After a long life extremely well lived, Margaret McIntosh Gilhooly Duligal left us peacefully on October 10, 2021 at Harmony Hills Care Community. Born in Edinburgh, Scotland June 2, 1931, Margaret is predeceased by her beloved husband Fred Duligal as well as her four brothers, Robert, Alec, John and Ronald Gilhooly. “Wee Meg” will be forever missed by her loving children Susan and Gerry and their spouses, Ian Harper and Helen Taylor. Margaret also leaves behind her sisters-in-law Lorette Gilhooly, June Hatwell (Mick) and brother-in-law Charles Duligal (Sylvia), cousin Douglas Neilson (Elissa) as well as many loving nieces and nephews.

Margaret and Fred married in Edinburgh and enjoyed many adventures together travelling to France and Spain before emigrating to Canada in 1957. As a young mother with a husband who was a working jazz musician at the time, Margaret taught herself to sew in the evenings. Something she started just to keep busy became a lifelong passion. Margaret made all of her own clothes until she was in her eighties. She collected dolls, miniatures and dollhouses, both vintage and modern and took courses in making ceramic dolls. Margaret shared this hobby with a few like-minded friends with whom she would embark on weekend road trips to Stateside exhibitions.

Margaret worked at Simpsons (later Sears) in the Toy and Nursery Department, a job that she loved. She would rescue toys from boxes that had been opened and discarded on the floor, always finding them a new home. She adored children and was well-known for being a “baby whisperer”. No infant or toddler was immune to her smiles, no matter how cranky. In later years, she did all the shopping for the children of the employees of Long & McQuade Musical Instruments, not only buying individual gifts for the annual Christmas party but wrapping them all as well. What started as a handful of children grew into dozens over the decades. The Duligal dining room was like Santa’s Workshop year after year and Margaret couldn’t be happier.

Margaret stayed close to her family in the UK over her lifetime, continuing strong, loving bonds with her mother, brothers and sisters-in-law despite the thousands of miles apart. Margaret loved hosting generations of family members who would come to Canada for their holidays, introducing them to everything she loved about living in Ontario, from barbecues and hot summer nights to “The Ex” and Niagara Falls. Margaret loved entertaining and was an excellent hostess both at her home in Scarborough and most notably at the family cottage on Lake Scugog. She thought nothing of cooking a “full Scottish” breakfast for twenty overnight guests after a long night of live music and dancing.

Margaret was a fantastic dancer and like many women whose husbands are musicians playing on the bandstand, was quite happy to dance with other women. Her daughter and daughter-in-law, her beloved cousin Irene, her sisters-in-law and friends were all enthusiastic partners over the years. Margaret’s love of dancing was well recognized right up until her last year at Harmony Hills where she still “had some moves” at ninety years old and won a dance contest with a staff member during the pandemic lockdown. Her quick wit and cheeky charm made her a favourite of the Harmony Hills community and her family will be forever thankful for the support and affection they shared.

Words cannot convey how much the wonderful staff at Harmony Hills is appreciated for their loving care of Margaret over the last few years. The Duligal family is so grateful for the kindness, compassion, professionalism and good humour of the Garden Gate team in particular.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Those wishing to make a donation in memory of Margaret are asked to consider the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada.