PEGGY ROGERS (nee MacKay)
Peggy offered her family and the world a kindness and generosity of spirit and deed which was plain to anyone who encountered her ready smile and infectious laugh. Peggy was about Friendship. She was about Love.
Born Ellen Elizabeth Mary MacKay, on her delivery to the farm her father saw “Peggy”- and so it was, in Tidnish, Nova Scotia, 1927. She attended Mount Allison University graduating with a bachelors degree in 1949. Peggy taught school in Truro; spent some time in Saint John, and was a nutritionist in Montreal. Peggy met Al travelling home by train from Montreal for Christmas in 1958. Al discovered he really needed to keep a close eye on his “business” interests in Montreal, more than ever before. Mom moved to Winnipeg for a wedding the following December. After quickly starting a family, four kids in five years, Peggy and Al moved to Lorne Park in 1968.
The notion that fences make good neighbours was poorly understood by Peggy & Al, and not at all by the household and neighborhood youth. In short order the unfenced yard became a community playground of worn base paths and end zones. The boisterous play was hard on one of Peggy's great passions, gardening. She bore the insults better than some of her charges. The yard was always full, windows often broken, and the house and refrigerator door, open.
Peggy made lifelong friends in her various pursuits and everywhere all the time, everyone a friend; Girl Guides, Christ Church, porcelain painting, bell collecting with Al. She was a regular with the tight knit group of Tuesday Morning Crafty Ladies, who, after 40 years, still meet today for coffee.
By a circuitous route Peggy & Al's shared hobby of bell collecting led them first to a weekend enterprise at the Harborfront Antique Market, then to a storefront in the redeveloped Queen's Quay, and finally to a second location in Hazelton Lanes. With their daughter Leslie, Peggy & Al operated Accent's Brass for 15 years- more laughter, and more friends. If you're reading this, there is a good chance you have a bit of Accents Brass somewhere in your home. “Inventory” was always a problem (said Al).
Following Al's death in 2002, Peggy moved to Oakville where she continued her gardening, enjoyed a great view, kept up with her old friends and made new ones. She was grateful to all of her friends who came forward with assistance and care as her health began failing in 2013.
Peggy passed away peacefully in her 90th year, in the loving arms of her family at her home in Oakville on November 22, 2016. She is survived by her children Mark (wife Grace and grandchildren Stephanie and Daniel), Scott (wife Kim Jensen and grandchildren Samantha and Atticus), Leslie and Paul (wife Leslie Bolt). She is predeceased by her husband Al and her bothers Ken and Neil and is survived by her dear sister- in- law Priscilla MacKay of Tidnish, Nova Scotia. She leaves behind extended family in Nova Scotia and Ohio who always gathered to return Peggy's wonderful affection.
We are all going to miss her smile, which she delighted us with to the end; her incredible laugh and her love of life.
The family will receive friends for visitation at the Turner & Porter “Peel” Chapel, 2180 Hurontario Street, Mississauga (Hwy 10 N of QEW) on Friday, November 25, 2016 from 2-4 and 6 -8 p.m. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, November 26, 2016 at 3:00 p.m. at Christ Church United, 1700 Mazo Crescent, Mississauga.
The family would like to thank the Halton CCAC who facilitated comforting care through her final chapter. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Oakville's ground breaking hospice Ian Anderson House, or to a charity of your choice, in memory of Peggy. Online condolences may be made through www.turnerporter.ca