Agnes Castle

Agnes K. Castle, age 94, passed away Saturday, November 29, 2014 at North York General Hospital, Toronto. Agnes Kathleen Hickey was born at home on a frigid night in Montreal on January 18, 1920, the daughter of Martin James and Mary Elizabeth (Ryan) Hickey. She married Ernest G. Castle on July 12, 1947 at St. Anthony's Church, Montreal. A long-time resident of Montreal and St. Laurent, Quebec, she moved to Toronto in 1991 but her heart always remained in Montreal. Agnes was known as a fastidiously organized and headstrong woman whose strong faith and love of her family, loyalty to her friends and country guided her life. Her lessons to her granddaughters in proper English usage prompted the nickname "Grammar Grandma," and her sense of humor, the moniker "Laughing Grandma." She never put away a plastic grocery bag without neatly folding it and always tied the trash into the tidiest of packages. She will be remembered for her unrelenting attention to causes about which she felt strongly, beginning with a campaign at age 10 to gain equality for girls at the local swimming pool, bringing electricity to the family cottage in the Laurentians, letter-writing campaigns to a variety of politicians and, most recently, attention to management items at her apartment building. A lifelong Montreal Canadiens fan, she rarely missed Hockey Night in Canada. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Gregory E. and Debra (Morsch) Castle, of Birmingham, Michigan and two granddaughters, Colleen E. Castle of Baltimore, Maryland and Danielle M. Castle of Boston, Massachusetts, a nephew James (Roberta) Hickey of Kitchener, Ontario, and a niece Gloria Hickey of St. John's, Newfoundland. She also leaves behind her lifelong friend Thelma LeBlanc of Burlington, and dear friends Edna Hawkins and Sandy Bric, both of North York, whose love and support provided great help and comfort during her last months. She was predeceased by her husband, her parents, her older brother Martin D. Hickey and a brother in infancy. Our special thanks go to Dr. Karen Weisz and Dr. Dorothy Sullivan and the nursing staff at the Palliative Care Unit at North York General Hospital for their care, understanding and kindness. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, December 2, 2014 from 2-4 & 7-9 p.m. at the R. S. Kane Funeral Home, 6150 Yonge Street (at Goulding, south of Steeles). Further details to follow. Interment at Notre Dame de Neiges Cemetery, Montreal. In lieu of flowers, donations to North York General Hospital or a charity of your choice would be most appreciated.