After battling several difficult health challenges, Colleen Margaret Dalgarno passed away peacefully at University Hospital in London, Ontario on Thursday, July 28th, 2022, at the age of 80. Colleen was born in Vancouver, B.C. to Eileen and Harold Turkington on September 11, 1941 and later called London home.
She leaves behind her husband Bill, whom she was married to for 60 years; their children Cheryl and Brad; along with son-in-law Mark (Ellyatt); daughter-in-law Lesley; and grandchildren Jessica, Brandi, Quinn, Sydney and Hannah
Colleen leaves behind on the west coast her big brother David Turkington (Bev); younger sister Trudie (Bruno Fulde); and was predeceased by older sister Betty (Ron Bannister). Colleen will also be missed by her best friend since childhood, Elaine Baxter, who was like a sister to her. She was a wonderful sister-in-law to Jim and Margaret Dalgarno from Kelowna; and an amazing “Auntie Col” to Taryn, Lance, Greg Bannister, Taylor, Carson and Jane Fulde, Todd, Shawn, Tammy Turkington, Kevin and Steven Dalgarno; and surrogate aunt to Sharon and Sue Baxter.
She met the love of her life William “Bill” Dalgarno in her teens. It was love at first sight when Colleen answered the door with her steely blue eyes and curlers in her hair. They married at age 20 and could always be found with family in their spare time. Young or old, Bill and Colleen enjoyed socializing with their nieces and nephews, aunts and uncles, until they began their own family. They moved across the country for Bill’s work while raising Cheryl and Brad and collected many lifelong friends along the way, often through the hockey family. It was amazing how quickly Colleen could turn a brand-new house into a home and make instant friends with neighbours.
To say that Colleen’s children and grandkids were her pride and joy, would be an understatement. There is no doubt that her positive energy contributed to the successful hockey career that her son Brad experienced which led him to the NHL. Her pride in his success though, never overshadowed her joy for others. Her own kin benefited from always having their mom and grandma rooting for them. This did not end once you reached adulthood! A call from Grandma could always be expected to provide her with the update she thrived upon if she wasn’t in the stands or in the audience herself. Everyone’s activity schedule was her schedule. Furthermore, if you happen to be a friend of her kin, or a neighbour, you also instantly became part of her world. Her positive energy for others was in abundance.
Colleen and Bill’s home was always a revolving door right from the start. A welcoming place to be for all. Colleen made hosting look easy. Christmas was her specialty. The more, the merrier. Their house was regularly filled with good people, music, food and beverages. A mess was never a problem. Dancing usually ended the evening.
While raising the family, she always found time to volunteer with groups ranging from the CNIB, to the kids’ schools, to helping with seniors. She absolutely loved her years working at Canadian Tire, in both Whitby and London, and the job kept her young. She was everyone’s “other” mom, always keeping her door open to anyone. She arrived for work an hour early every day with coffees and treats for everyone. She didn’t drink coffee herself. That was Colleen.
In her “retired” years, Colleen was an active member of the Hamilton Road Seniors Center in London. We swear she just thought she was a volunteer there and not a senior herself! She so enjoyed being part of the social activities, putting on plays, enjoying a game of chair hockey, took part in fitness classes and led the decorating team for all seasonal events. She loved her time here.
A memorial event will be announced in the near future and we look forward to celebrating her life together. There will be music and dancing and lots and lots of laughter. In lieu of flowers, those wishing to make a donation in memory of Colleen are asked to consider the Hamilton Road Seniors Centre or the Unity Project.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Colleen Margaret Dalgarno September 11 1941 July 28 2022..
Death notice for the town of: London, Province: Ontario