McCAW, Frances Myrtle (née Coleman), age 95 years, 4 months, of Port Hope, Ontario, passed away on the morning of Thursday, August 19th, 2021, in her daughter’s home after a long decline with congestive heart failure. She was born on April 13th, 1926, in Listowel, her mother being driven into town from the home farm over snowy roads in a horse-drawn cutter. The middle of three children to “Bob” Robert Graham Coleman and Myrtle Elizabeth (née Walters) Coleman. Predeceased by older sister Betty Hillier (Jack). Missed by younger sister Nancy Jex (Ted) of Port Hope.
Fran was a long-time widow of “Bill” William Lewis McCaw (1920-1955), and loving mother to “Mike” Michael William (1948-2010; wife Brenda; of Brampton), Christopher David (1950-1950), Ruth Frances (1952-1956) and Patricia Elizabeth (born posthumously, 1956; husband William Duffy; of Port Hope).
Fran was beloved Grandma to Heather McCaw (Brendan Dunne; Brampton), Sean McCaw (Andrea Perry; Belleville), Sarah Duffy (Port Hope) and Graham Francis Duffy (Port Hope). Fran’s first great-grandchild is expected in December 2021 to Heather.
Fran was the last ‘McCaw’ of the family, being predeceased by her brothers-in-law and their wives Harry (Doris) and Charlie (Evelyn) and by her sister-in-law Mabel. She was an interested aunt to twelve nieces and nephews on both sides.
Fran’s early childhood was in Union Creek (south of Kinmount, Haliburton County) where, for a time, Myrtle was a teacher in a one-room schoolhouse. Bob was ill with severe asthma and on bad days Myrtle used to hang a towel out the window for a neighbouring woman to see and come over to check on him. Young Fran was taken to school where she drew and coloured at the back of the room. Fran has fond memories of the Christmas concerts that her mother would produce with the children.
When Fran was 9 y/o the family moved to Port Hope where Dad owned Bob Coleman’s Barber Shop at 20 John St, and they lived overtop. Myrtle was an elementary teacher. Fran attended Central PS and Port Hope HS on Pine St. When WWII broke out Fran went to Ottawa to work until it was over, while living at the YWCA.
In 1947, Fran married Bill at St Paul’s Presbyterian Church. They moved to Batawa (Bata Shoe) and Scarborough (Toronto Hydro), and had eight years together before he died of an enlarged heart from war-related injuries at the age of 35.
Fran never remarried, and she raised her two living children on Freeman St in Birch Cliff, Scarborough. Her most fulfilling working career was as a Legislative Secretary for MPPs (including John R Smith who rose to cabinet minister, David Rotenburg and James Pollock) at Queen’s Park, Toronto. She and close friend Sandy King still reminisced about the good days with the statesmanship of Bill Davis.
She was always thankful that she was able to travel, often taking Patti. They travelled throughout Canada, and went to Mexico, Greece/Turkey/Israel, England/Scotland and, especially, China (in 1982 shortly after it opened to the West).
In 1987, Fran retired to her dream, historical home and garden on Bruton St. She enjoyed all the years since doing handicrafts (knitting/crocheting, machine-sewing quilts, stained glass making and decorating). She was very socially minded and loved it when friends and family came over. She put on grand meals and cooked ‘way too much (because food was love). She liked to talk and laugh, and needed to learn about the context of people. It didn’t matter who you were, she liked to understand where you lived, who your family and friends were, and what you enjoyed doing. Fran really appreciated that she had very good neighbours who looked out for her and gave her treats, such as Erin Brown & Chris Plummer (who shovelled her driveway and walks), Eliane & Linda Lambert (who kept an eye out and shared birthdays and a few laughs), Peggy & Tim Hay (freshly picked blueberries), Sharon Wilson and others.
Fran enjoyed social outings with the Diners’ Club and Ruth Clarke Seniors lunches and picnics. There she made dear friends with Helen and Bill Rose, who would take her out every week for coffee at Tim Horton’s (Peter St), dinners at local restaurants, and country-music concerts at Newtonville Music in the Park. She loved catching up on news in knitting circles at the Osland Farm Market (with Cindy Osland, Brenda Sauve, Jenn Dogget, Yvonne O’Neil and others) and Ruth Clarke Seniors Centre (with Helen Yendrick, Joan Rowland, Pegg Frederick and others).
She had a bright, alert mind and liked to knit while watching TV: following events and politics, enjoying Nature shows, historical documentaries and dramas, anything on the Royal Family, and “goodie oldie” movies. She liked to handicraft items for Helping Hands. She knitted for newborns at the hospital, and dozens of pairs of socks for everybody.
She enjoyed church bazaars and teas, antique hunting, and long, country drives. It was important to regularly go out and appreciate the changing seasons (trilliums; lilacs; crops growing; leaves changing) and to buy local fresh fruits and vegetables (strawberries, peaches, cherries, corn, tomatoes). What could have been a ten-minute drive home often took two to four hours as familiar back roads were driven, ranging from Newcastle, Orono, Millbrook, Keene, Harwood to Brighton. The marinas of Port Hope, Cobourg, Bewdley, Bond Head and Gores Landing were favourite places to check out changing water and shorebirds.
Fran was eight days older than Queen Elizabeth II and felt they lived parallel lives. They married within months of each other, and son Mike and Prince Charles were born one month apart. Fran always admired how well the Queen managed her unending duties and still looked so great after all these years.
Fran was very happy to maintain affectionate relationships with cousins in the Walters family, Noreen Finnigan and Connie Inouye, and with distant friends Hilda Reid Ekblad and Birger Ekblad (in Kincardine).
As she grew older, Fran dearly missed her old friends whom she out-lived, such as Jean Johncox, Pauline Elliott, Jean McCaul, Margaret Dennis, Thelma Lancaster, Madelon Kelley and others.
Over the years, Fran was supported tremendously by generous and good friends Gary Ford (neighbour grass cutter), Marilyn Curson (Community Care cleaning/organizing), Rob Bebee (Community Care grass cutting, handy fixing), Penny Harris (Hospice Friendly Visiting), and Helen McAlpine (pharmacy delivery). (Please forgive if anyone was missed.) Every one of them cared SO much for her and added significantly to her life by bringing smiles, jokes, meals and treats.
Fran suffered a long time from severe arthritis, polymyalgia rheumatica and heart issues. She went to receive closer care at her daughter’s home in June 2020. Later, her heart weakened more, causing edema. She and her family really appreciated the home visits and excellent medical care of Dr Everdell (facilitated by Edie) and Dr Mulé, as well as blister packs by Community Care Pharmacy, personal support by PSW Laurie, nursing by St Elizabeth’s, and occupational therapy through CE LHIN. Mom wanted Palliative Care in the Home and everybody made sure that that happened for her and as comfortably as possible.
Fran was emphatic that she wanted NO viewing, funeral, nor celebration of life. She wanted immediate cremation. However, there’s nothing to prevent us from having get-togethers and remembering the happy times with her.
Please donate to something in Fran’s memory if you wish, but instead, she might ask that you be kind to each another.
If anyone would like to talk about Fran or share any stories or photos, please phone Patricia at 905-396-7313.
Read Less
To plant a memorial tree in honor of Frances Myrtle McCaw (Coleman), please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Frances Myrtle McCaw Coleman Thursday August 19th 2021..
Death notice for the town of: Port-Hope, Province: Ontario