Margaret Waddington

Friends and family are invited to join in a celebration of the lives of Donald Waddington and Margaret Waddington on Friday, July 18, 2014 at 1:00 pm at Knox Presbyterian Church, 120 Taylor Road in Bracebridge. Marg and Don first met at Orillia Collegiate Institute then, after going separate ways for the duration of WW2, were married in Toronto in 1946. For the next nearly 68 years their lives were closely intertwined. With a young family in the 1950s they become owners and operators of the Rowanwood Lodge tourist resort between Bracebridge and Huntsville, putting their hospitality, culinary and construction skills together. From there Marg transitioned back to her professional dietetic roots and took command of the dietary program at the newly-built South Muskoka Memorial Hospital in Bracebridge and Don launched into municipal government and administration as part-time clerk-treasurer of Stephenson Township. Marg continued at SMMH until her retirement in 1984 and Don's role became full time with the amalgamated Town of Huntsville until his retirement in 1983. Although they had always taken part in their community, it was after they were retired and living in Bracebridge that they got really involved and busy. Square dancing, golf and curling. Senior swim programs. Volunteer work at The Pines, serving on the hospital board, founding and continuing support of Manna Food Bank. Travel. Church programs. People who dealt with them remembered them. Don is remembered in some quarters for his succession of older Volvos with Poppy licence plate, each one probably bought and carefully maintained thinking it was likely his last car and had better last. But he outlasted them all, finally giving up his licence and selling the car less than two years before his death. Marg and Don took their last trip together in 2007 after Marg had been diagnosed with Alzheimer Disease and her challenges were becoming apparent. Several months after their return she was hospitalized and from there she moved into The Pines. Don gave up living solo in their apartment and made his new home in the retirement community at James Street Place where he could still walk to many of his favourite businesses. Even living apart Don still got out with Marg regularly to meals, Cellar Singers concerts, community events and church where Marg was particularly pleased to be part of a community that included happy young people. As Marg's disease inevitably progressed and Don's physical abilities declined they saw less and less of each other but still received wonderful support from friends from their past activities, from friends at Alzheimer Muskoka and from the gifted and friendly staff at their respective residences. Don finally needed to be hospitalized at the beginning of March. After fighting off several serious illnesses, he fell victim to an infection he could not shake and died in hospital on May 17. Marg seemed to have decided about the same time there was nothing left to struggle for and went downhill quickly. Her last few days were possibly her most tranquil and serene in several years. On June 9 she passed away, no doubt re-joining Don somewhere they are both free of pain and anxiety and happy to be together again. We gather together on July 18 to remember and celebrate them and their lives at their best, and the ways they touched each of us.

Service Information

Friday, July 18th, 2014 1:00pm, Knox Presbyterian Church (Bracebridge)

Details:

Service Extra Info Friends and family are invited to join in a celebration of the lives of Donald Waddington and Margaret Waddington on Friday, July 18, 2014 at 1:00 pm at Knox Presbyterian Church, 120 Taylor Road in Bracebridge. An obituary in memory of Don & Margaret has been added under the "obituary/Notice" link.