Margaret Jenny "Peggy" Laidlaw
Margaret Jenny “Peggy” Age 71, daughter of the late Olive and David Bailey of Sydney Mines, and predeceased by her beloved husband Jimmie. She is survived by sons, Donald (Stephanie), and Corey, and grandchildren, Max, Lucas, Caitlin and Joseph (JJ); sisters, Marie Blinkhorn, Amy McCarron (George), Linda Fairn (David) and Judy Bailey (Less Gerrow); brothers, Lloyd (Maude) and Robert (Jean); and Aunt Jessie Bailey. It is with deep sadness that we announce Peggy passed peacefully on the morning of April 29, 2018, in Halifax surrounded by loved ones. Peggy was a life-long learner with a love for words and languages. She graduated from Sydney Mines High School in Cape Breton with honours and was valedictorian. She obtained Masters degrees with honours in both English and Education. As an educator in Dartmouth for 25 years, she taught English, French, and at one time, Latin. She was devoted to her junior high students and their success, both in their studies and the arts. Peg will be remembered as a teacher who expected your best effort and who set high standards for herself, her colleagues, and her students. If you were taught by Peggy Laidlaw, you remember her. She volunteered countless hours every year organizing and directing Remembrance Day Services and theatre plays with her students and many retirement parties for her colleagues. She had a passion for Greek Mythology, which was a favorite topic in her classroom, and her collection of art was a prized possession. Her love of words stayed with her in retirement, and no day began without a good cup of tea and the crossword.
Also, an artisan, Peg was a sewer, toll painter, and also became an expert at crochet, creating intricate works of art that are treasured by those lucky enough to own one. Peggy loved to travel, and she and Jimmie toured the world, making friends wherever they went, returning home with engrossing tales of their adventures in Australia, Hawaii and many other countries and cruises.
Peggy cherished her many sleepovers with her grandchildren and adored cooking and entertaining. Her themed dinner parties, with elaborate table settings, were legend. And any day you popped in for a visit, you could always count on a hot meal and a cold drink. She took this energy with her in her retirement years wintering in Florida, where she quickly became entrenched in fundraising and making sure her fellow park residents, many of whom became close friends, were well fed, being the main organizer for Christmas dinners, craft sales, and flea markets. She also relished the culture, enjoying concerts and symphonies, and evening beach walks and sunset picnics with Jimmie at Venice Beach, their Florida home.
Peggy touched many lives, giving of herself to family and her many close friends. We all hold treasured memories of our times with her. Although this past year was filled with challenges, it’s now her time to rest.
A service will be held at St. Augustine’s Anglican church in Lake Echo on May 11, 2018, at 11 a.m. A reception will follow at the church hall.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Heart & Stroke Foundation.
