Miriam Margaret Hastings

Our dear friend and godmother, Miriam Margaret Hastings, passed away peacefully on January 3, 2026, at the age of 87.

Born in Toronto, Miriam trained to be a teacher and met lifelong friends during those early years, cementing their enduring friendship with cross-country tenting trips that made lasting memories – both for better and for worse!

Immediately after graduation, Miriam was offered her first teaching contract during a five-minute interview with the (then) Toronto Board of Education. She spent her career teaching young people, inspiring countless students with her joy of reading. She taught for many years, with especially fond memories of students and colleagues at Earlscourt Public School, until her retirement in 1993.

Both during and after her career, Miriam had a rich life full of interests, including square dancing (for which she sewed striking outfits), theatre and cross-stitching. She loved fine dining but hated cooking, with a special loathing for making pastry. She could host an intimate dinner party or organize a seniors’ dinner for one hundred people with equal aplomb. She took pride in her beautiful home and always cut an elegant figure; Miriam looked polished whenever and wherever she went, right to the end.

Above all, Miriam loved travel, making lifelong friendships during her many adventures around the world. “Travel is always worth it” was a phrase that she lived by.

Miriam is pre-deceased by her late husband and the love of her life, Charles Byrne. Together, Miriam and Charlie travelled thousands of miles, enjoyed countless adventures, and shared stories and laughter with friends and family both in Toronto and around the world.

Miriam was deeply connected to the community at St. Margaret of Scotland Catholic Church, where she served as president of the seniors’ society for many years. Her funeral service will be held at St. Margaret’s on January 31, 2026, with visitation at 10:00 am and the Catholic Requiem Mass at 11:00 am.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to the Sunnybrook Foundation or to the Canadian National Institute for the Blind.