Angela Mary McGie

Angela Mary Gill was born on Wednesday December 3, 1924. The eldest child of an English country doctor, she was raised in Braintree, Essex, England. When she was 14 years old WWII broke out and she was evacuated, with her boarding school, to the southwest coast of England. At around 16 years old, her parents divorced, and her father remarried and expanded the family. She lived with and cared for her mother until her mother died at the age of 57. Angela had aspirations of becoming a nurse but the fates and a bad score on her exams suggested she become a radiographer (x-ray technician) instead. She studied at Guys Hospital in London.

In her mid-30’s Angela applied for a two-year job contract in both South Africa and Canada. Canada replied first, so in June 1958 she sailed from England and landed in Thunder Bay, Ontario. On her second day in Canada, she went to her new workplace and met a quiet, handsome x-ray machine repairman, Jack McGie. Six months later, on January 16, 1959, Angela and Jack were married on a cold winter’s day, beginning a 46-year marriage. They honeymooned in Bermuda and then settled in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Vivian Mary was born in December that same year and John Robert was welcomed in October 1962.

Due to the nature of Jack’s work, Angela was often left alone caring for two young children: a new Mom in a new country. The family moved to the West Coast after Jack secured a job in the Radiology department of St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver. They moved into a house in North Vancouver in April 1966; a house that would be her home for the rest of her life.

When not knee deep in mothering, Angela enjoyed learning foreign languages, ice skating, tennis, painting, and a myriad of other interests. Her passion for gardening kept her out well past dusk on numerous occasions, sometimes requiring a search party to be sent out to look for her. Her caring nature led her to volunteer as a tutor to help dyslexic kids with reading as well as volunteering in the Palliative Care Unit at Lions Gate Hospital.

When the children were young, Angela and Jack bought their first sailboat, the Wild Swan. When the kids outgrew it, they purchased their second sailboat, Balderdash. Sailing the B.C. coastal waters was a huge part of this family’s life and created many happy memories.

A dedicated and devoted member of St. Catherine’s Anglican Church for over 50 years, Angela served as a member of the Altar Guild, as well as being a part of the Liturgical Arts group.

She was a loving, generous, giving lady, fiercely independent, with a quick wit and a sprinkle of cheek. In her later years, dementia caused parts of her to fade and see the world in unique and often inaccurate ways. This, at times, presented challenges for both her and those around her, but her spirit and sparkle often glimmered through. John and Vivian succeeded in keeping her home until the end. Angela died peacefully in her sleep in her own bed in her own time. It was a good exit.

Beloved, magical, irreplaceable. A wife, a mother, a Granny, a GG (Great Grandmother). Angela is predeceased by her parents Molly Gill and Lawrence Gill and her brother Michael Gill. She is survived by her half-brother John and half-sister Jill, her children Vivian and John, her granddaughter Brittany, and her great grandchildren Summer and Emmalee. But her “family” was much bigger than that. And its numbers are incalculable.

Angela was adored and treasured.

There will be a Celebration of Life on Sunday, April 24, 2022, at 2:00 PM at St. Catherine’s Anglican Church, located at 1058 Ridgewood Drive, North Vancouver, B.C. with a reception to follow.

If you choose, you can bring a single flower to put in a big vase that will be at the front of the church as you enter.

We also encourage people to wear bright colours, but it is not mandatory. Please wear whatever suits you.

The service will be livestreamed. You can see it at the following link.

https://youtu.be/TG_Ju_7vSRI

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Vivian and John at [email protected].