Hunter, Marguerite “Peggy” (nee Bryan)
In the quiet peacefulness of the early morning, Marguerite, known to her many friends as Peggy, passed from this life to the next at St. Peter’s Hospital in Hamilton. She is survived by her best friend and loving husband of almost 59 years, Paul and will be greatly missed by daughter Frances, adored grandchildren Blake (Daniel) & Hunter and youngest brother Michael (Judy). Predeceased by her older brothers Edward and Gordon, and cherished sister-in-law Francoise (nee Martin). So too she will be missed by her nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews, and great-great nieces and nephews as well as many cousins and second cousins.
Marguerite grew up in Cornwall Ontario, daughter of the late Edward C. Bryan and Kathleen Legroulx, surrounded by family. While petite, she grew strong trying to keep up with her two older brothers until her younger brother arrived. She discovered her life-long calling to teach at an early age, racing home to babysit and ‘play’ school.
At the tender age of 16 she left home to attend teacher’s college in Ottawa, accepting a teaching position in Hamilton two years later. She began her vocation at St. Patrick’s school in 1954, teaching various elementary grades before settling at St. Vincent de Paul teaching grade one. She then became Primary Consultant in order to help fellow teachers. Peggy returned to St. Patrick’s as principal in the late 1980’s and eventually retired from teaching as principal of St. Ann’s Ancaster in 1995.
Peggy held a life-long love of learning, attaining her B.A. in political science in 1977 with Paul, and her Master’s degree in Education in 1989. After retiring, she continued to help in friend’s classrooms – she couldn’t leave it behind. A member of St. Ann Parish since 1978, in her retirement she participated in the bereavement committee and RCIA.
Peggy met the love of her life, Paul, in the theatre group, The St. Thomas More Players. An early feminist, she never planned to marry, but Paul’s kindness, creativity, hardworking attitude, and love for family won her over. Together, they would glide effortlessly across many a dance floor, spend winters skiing, travel to many places in the world, enjoy theatre at the Shaw and Stratford festivals, and entertain family and their many friends in their loved home on Marigold Court.
A constant theme in Peggy’s life has been a love of books and reading. Throughout her professional life she fostered this love in the children she taught, and she worked to help teachers, teach better. She even taught the family dog ‘book handling knowledge’. As a consultant, when a young teacher was losing hope that a particular student would ever read, Peggy was heard to say, “I taught a dog to read – YOU can teach a kid!”. After retiring she helped start and was an active participant in two book clubs. Even after dementia started to inhibit her ability to remember the story, she still managed to actively participate in the group discussions.
Peggy loved style and elegance and had a natural talent for always looking polished, elegant, and professional. Even at St. Pat’s with three flights of stairs to her office, she wore her heels every day. Dinner parties were a regular occurrence, and no detail was left out. Peggy was an excellent and adventurous home chef. But she did have her waterloo – her pecan pie was legendary, but her biscuits were hockey pucks without the aid of Bisquick.
Heartfelt thanks to the dedicated staff at Deerview Crossing Memory Care, LHIN, Hamilton General Hospital, and St. Peter’s hospital for their kind, compassionate care in Peggy’s last few years. We would have been lost without you.
Visitation will take place at P.X. Dermody Funeral Home, 796 Upper Gage Ave. Tuesday March 22 from 2-4 pm & 6-8 pm. A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Ann Ancaster 11 Wilson Street Ancaster, Wednesday March 23 at 10 am. Following mass, interment will take place at Resurrection Cemetery 245 Garner Road, Ancaster.
Donations to The Indigo Love of Reading Foundation in Peggy’s honour would be appreciated.
All are welcome but we would ask that masks be worn to protect those among us with vulnerable health conditions. Due to Covid, please RSVP by calling the funeral home. Online condolences can be made to www.dermodys.com
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Marguerite Elizabeth Peggy Hunter Bryan Friday March 11th 2022..
Death notice for the town of: HAMILTON, Province: Ontario
My sincere condolences to Paul and family Josie Bianco ( neighbor on Marigold) Frances thinking of you.