Obituary for Marguerite ‘Mugs’ Tamblyn
Marguerite Sealy Tamblyn was reunited with her husband Bill on March 3, 2018. She died peacefully at her residence at Balmoral Place Retirement Community in Collingwood, Ontario. She is survived by her brother Thomas McCavour (Shirley Hedch), six children Ian (Amanda Shaughnessy), Cherie (Larry Freeman), Michael (Verona Leslie), Sally (Dick Hagman), David (Ruth Falzetta) and Robbie (Val Ramseyer), 14 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren as well as a huge extended family. She was predeceased by her beloved husband Bill almost nine years ago on March 31, 2009.
Born July 30, 1925, in Keewatin, Ontario, Marguerite “Mugs” Tamblyn lived an incredibly rich and long life. Growing up in Fort William(Thunder Bay) Ontario, she had an active and vibrant youth, excelling at school (except Math),with summers at Amethyst Harbour on Lake Superior. She was a keen skier and tennis player from an early age. After graduation from Fort William Collegiate, she continued her education at the University of Toronto where she graduated with a BA in Sciences and there she met her husband William (Bill) Tamblyn.
Shortly after they were married, Mugs and Bill travelled to Hunan Province in China where Bill worked as an engineer in the construction of a hospital. This youthful adventure gave them a wanderlust that prevailed throughout their lives.
In 1947 Mugs and Bill returned to Canada and Fort William to settle down and over the next sixteen years, Mugs gave birth to and raised six children. Though it might seem like a formidable task in itself, her social and charitable work did not slow down one bit. Marguerite Tamblyn was active in church and hospital auxiliaries in Fort William as well as enjoying tennis and sailing races at Amethyst Harbour, skiing and bridge during the winter months. Mugs and Bill continued their exploration of the world during this time, with a particular focus on the Caribbean, where they eventually lived part of their “retirement “years.
But there was never anything retiring about the life Mugs led. She took a keen interest in the local arts scene and supported the birth of the Thunder Bay Symphony, she loved all things musical and it could be said that Mugs and Bill enjoyed “Camelot” times, as did the blessed of her generation.
When husband Bill left the construction world to become the first president of Lakehead University in 1964, Mugs’ social world became even more complicated and hectic, as she immersed herself in the world and life of a new university. Remarkably, this coincided with the first birthday of their youngest son, Robbie.
After the tenure at Lakehead University concluded she and Bill moved briefly to Ottawa to take up a political appointment but it was not long before they began yet another chapter – operating a charter cruise business out of Hope Town, Abacos, sailing the sixty foot motor sailor “Comadre”.
During all these adventures Mugs was often credited by her husband for possessing the “feminine mystique”, as was common to that age, but the truth was that Mugs was the financial officer behind all these ventures while husband Bill was often up the mast or down in the bilge trying to keep the boat afloat!! She was a person of fierce intelligence, strong opinion and unending affection for Bill, which turned to deep dedication during his final years as he struggled with Parkinson’s Disease.
The “Comrade” completed her last voyage in 1995, and Mugs and Bill moved to Collingwood, Ontario, to be closer to their larger and extended family. Since that time Marguerite Tamblyn continued her active life managing scholarship funds in the family name at Lakehead university and the satellite campus in Orillia, Ontario. In keeping with her outgoing character, Mugs made many new friends in Collingwood and until recently, at ninety-two years old, Mugs played regularly with these friends. She remained intellectually keen right to the last chapter. She was a devoted grandmother and great grand mother.
Mugs Tamblyn also enjoyed the cocktail hour so if you are inclined, the family would hope that you might raise a glass – a G and T in her honour.
The family would like to thank the staff of the Balmoral Place Retirement Community, St. Elizabeth Health Clinic Dr. Wells and Dr Milligan for their care, support and kindness during her last days.
A celebration of Marguerite “Mugs” Tamblyn’s life will be held at 11 a.m. March 31, 2018, at Fawcett Funeral , Collingwood – Chapel.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to the Ride for the Cure for Cancer, the Canadian Cancer Society or the General and Marine Hospital in Collingwood.
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Marguerite ‘Mugs’ Tamblyn 1925 2018.source
Death notice for the town of: Collingwood, Province: Ontario