Obituary
VINCENT, Harriet Marie passed away December 5, 2019 at the Heart of the Valley Long Term Care Centre in Middleton, Nova Scotia. Harriet Marie (Demick) was born January 26, 1930. She was the fourth of the six children of the late Harry Demick and Beatrice Reekie. She grew up on the shores of the Georgian Bay in Parry Sound, Ontario. She was a Girl Guide, extremely proud of being presented her Gold Cord by Lady Baden Powell. A faithful church member of the United Church from early childhood, she became a lifelong member of the UCW. Marie became one of the first women in Parry Sound to attend University. She graduated from Queen’s, married and went back to school to get her teaching certificate from the Ontario College of Education. She had a highly successful, lifelong career in education. First teaching in Gravenhurst High School and then at numerous schools in Scarborough, where she progressed from Department Head to Vice-Principal and then Principal. For a period, she was Assistant to the Superintendent at the Scarborough Board and was the Scarborough Board Freedom of Information Officer. Marie considered her greatest career achievement was her role as Principal in leading the transformation of R.H. King Collegiate Institute into a successful Academy. In her post teaching life, Marie purchased her mother’s residence at 27 River St. in Parry Sound, where she operated a B&B for many years. She sold this in 2008 and moved to Middleton, Nova Scotia to be near her son Harry and his family. In her final years she has lived at the Heart of the Valley in Middleton NS where the staff has taken loving care of her. On May 31, 1951, Marie married the late Lauren John Sagar “Jack” Vincent. They had two children, Lauren John Harry and Rose Marie. They raised Laura Beatrice (Reekie) Gray as her guardians and Marie adopted Laura in 1981. She was loving mother to and survived by her children, Harry (Wendy), Rose and Laura (Bryan); loving sister of Shirley Shelby; dear grandmother of Kevin, Sherri, Erin (Liam) and Scott (Amber); and dear great-grandmother of Ellen, Marley, Summer, Peyton and Lauren. Marie was predeceased by her husband Jack, her parents, Harry and Beatrice, her brothers, Charles and David and her sisters, Charlotte and Anna May. A small celebration of life is planned for Marie at 2:30 p.m. Friday, January 10, 2020 in the Heart of the Valley Long Term Care Centre, Middleton NS. Private interment will follow at a later date in Gravenhurst ON. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Heart of the Valley Recreation Fund or a charity of choice. Arrangements have been entrusted to Middleton Funeral Home, 398 Main St. toll free 1-855-825-3448. Online guestbook may be signed by visiting: www.middletonfuneralhome.com
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Harriet Marie Vincent January 26 1930 December 5 2019 (age 89)..
Death notice for the town of: GRAVENHURST, Province: Ontario