Margaret Kennedy Kriegel

Margaret Kennedy Kriegel passed away peacefully in the early hours of January 27, 2025 at Ina Gage Grafton Home. Born on July 15, 1932, and raised in Glasgow, Scotland, she lived there with her parents and younger sister, Anne, until the early 1950s. Despite losing a significant portion of her childhood as a result of World War II, she often recounted how she was able to identify planes flying overhead, and more importantly the types of bombs that were falling and whether there was immediate danger. Her father was a Marine engineer who was closely involved with the British war effort so Margaret, with her mother and sister, were moved to Paisley (just west of Glasgow) where the three of them had to fend for themselves during the war.

This independence proved to be useful when she ventured out on her own, to start a new life in Canada. It was almost unheard of for young women to travel alone, to a new country, without an escort. Margaret did just that. She used her legal training in Scotland to embark on a career as a legal assistant/secretary in Toronto.

In the early 1960s she met Justin and they married in 1962. They settled in Agincourt but travelled extensively. They also entertained family and friends countless times at their home. Margaret was an extremely gracious hostess and always ensured everything was perfect. Unfortunately Justin passed away at the tender age of 59 in 1986. Margaret continued to live in their house, tending to the flowers and gardens she loved so much for 30 more years until her health failed.

The majority of her working life was working in tandem (because she would not consider herself working for anyone), with Mark M. Orkin, QC., a renowned Toronto lawyer. The two of them worked side by side for 35 years, and then in her “retirement”, when she joined the Ladies Golf Club and was an avid golfer there for 15 years, she continued to work part-time with Mark. All this time and until she was 80 years old, Margaret drove from her home to the office parking lot downtown. A remarkable feat of patience and perseverance.

Her passions were tennis, golf and bridge. She played tennis at the Fitness Institute for many years, where she and her late husband Justin, were founding members in the early 1960s.

She played bridge on a regular basis, and studied the game by reading books on strategy as well as taking lessons.

From the age of 65 to 80 she played golf numerous times each week, frequenting the Toronto Ladies Golf Club where she was a member. Her last round of golf in her mid-80s was just two days before she succumbed to an infection that caused significant cognitive decline. Despite being given 9 months to live by the doctors treating her in the hospital, she defied all odds and lived for an additional 8 years.

Margaret was predeceased by her parents Robert and Peggy, her sister Anne and brother-in-law Ian. She will be sadly missed by her nephews Graham (Cindy), Jeremy (Michele) as well as Great-Nephew Jadan, cousins Margaret Young (Logan) as well as Sheila in Scotland, Diane Taylor (Mark) In New Zealand, and Campbell and John Tyler in South Africa.

Dear friends from afar and near will miss Margaret’s bigger than life strong personality, generosity and companionship, including Eileen and Jim Lackie, Stan Stojanovic and John Petrosoniak.

Margaret’s cremated remains will be interred after the funeral proceedings at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery where she will join her late husband Justin.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the charity of your choice.

The funeral will be held at Jerrett Funeral Home at 660 Kennedy Road in Toronto on February 6, 2025 commencing at 11 AM. Live streaming will be available at the following link https://funeraweb.tv/en/beloved/169155?shortlink=1