Obituary of Pat Maguire

MAGUIRE: Pat Maude Maguire passed away peacefully at Rideau Park, Brandon. Born June 27, 1924, died Wednesday, January 25, 2017. Beloved Mother of David Maguire (Noreen), Sheila Atkinson (Reg), Deborah Maguire, Diane Huffman (Ian), Kelly Maguire (Ian McDougall), and sister to Ethel Massoth, Carlsbad, California. Predeceased in 1978 by her husband Raymond Stewart. She had nine grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren; Wade (Dinh), Sophie and Kai Bo-Maguire; Shane (Gayle), Lennon and Mhairi Maguire; Kerri (Bruce), Judd and Cole Cameron; Craig (Heidi), Ozy, Jager and Becks Atkinson; Mitchell (Ashley), Ivy, Terrick and Lowe Fry; Nadyia Fry (Jakub), Ella Sumbera; Matt (Joann), Andrea and Brycen Huffman; Grace Huffman (Garrett) and Chloe Svenson; Alex Huffman (Jake). Mum had an adventurous and interesting life. Born in Lambeth, England, 2nd youngest of 6 children born to Susan and George Braithwaite. She and her sisters worked hard throughout her life, their mother owned a tobacconist shop near the Elephant and Castle, in London, England. They were up early each morning before school putting all the newspapers of the day together for the delivery boys and later working in the shop. As a teenager, she was drafted to the British Land Army, where the young women and old men took off the crops throughout Britain because the men were fighting the Second World War. She was in the fields north of London when she attended a dance at Stanstead Abbots, Hertsfordshire, where a handsome young man from Elgin, Manitoba was on leave. They had a blind date there and they continued a relationship that resulted in Raymond Stewart Maguire marrying Maude Braithwaite on December 17, 1944. They were married until Dad died suddenly on Oct 28, 1978. She took the Manchester Clipper to St. John, New Brunswick with eight other war brides and many American nurses being demobilized. Then she took the train from there to Montreal and on to Winnipeg. Ray picked her up in Winnipeg and they travelled out to Elgin. She went from a flat in London which had running water, electricity and indoor plumbing, to the middle of the bald prairie where there was no running water, no electricity and an outhouse toilet in the dead of a Manitoba winter! Talk about an adventure. I wonder if she thought "what have I done!!" She has lived in Elgin, Chilliwack, British Columbia and then Brandon. After Dad died, she raised Kelly as an only child in Chilliwack and embraced the community. She enjoyed her church, was a spiritual person and loved the water, the ocean and the mountains. She enrolled Kelly in many after school sports where she also became involved. When Kelly graduated and moved to Vancouver, Mum decided to move back to Brandon to be closer to other children and grandchildren. She spent many great years spending time with the kids in Brandon. The next move was to the Lions Manor, then to Victoria Landing and finally to Rideau Park. She always enjoyed quilting and putting stitches into other people's quilts in the day room at the Lions Manor. In England, they take swimming and sewing in their school classes. She continued with a life in both categories. She sewed many wedding dresses for brides in the Elgin area, including two of her daughters. Mum was always sewing - throughout our lives she created beautiful clothes we were all proud to wear and most of the décor for the house. She would also swim wherever she got the chance. She often wore a funny bathing cap which embarrassed her kids! She always had the travelling bug and when she had the opportunity, she went with anyone who would go. Mum spent time in Ireland, Scotland, England, Portugal, Spain, Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand, China (where she walked on the Great Wall), Japan and Asia. And she has left great photos and letters that describe each trip. War brides are amazing adventurers. Thanks Mum for all that you brought to our lives. We will miss you and love you always! A Celebration of Pat's Life was held at Trinity United Church, 1515 - 6th Street, on Tuesday, January 31, 2017. Interment will be held at the Elgin Cemetery at a later date. Donations in memory of Pat may be made to a Charity of Choice.