Browse the obituary of residing in the province of Ontario for funeral details
Margaret Hall lived a great many years, and she enjoyed every one of them. She is
predeceased by her husband Alexander Dalrymple Hall, to whom she was married for 68 happy
years, and her first son Bradley Napier Hall. Immediate family members who are mourning
Margaret’s passing include her son Craig Jamison Hall, Brad’s wife Dianne Hall, grandchildren
Ryan Hall (Jennifer), Kelly Hall (Keith), and Jamison Hall (Asia), great grandchildren Hannah,
Abby, and Alexander Hall, and Alex and Jacob Lax.
Margaret grew up in the small northern Ontario town of Capreol. Her father Archibald David
Napier and his wife Myrtle settled there in the early 1920s. He ran a tailor shop which found
steady work with the railway personnel throughout the 1930s. Living through “the Great
Depression” it was a happy childhood with her parents, sister Verroll, and extended family
members. Margaret attended Sunday school in Capreol and cultivated her love of hymns and
verse which she could recall well into her 90s.
Margaret moved to Toronto for her last year of high school where she attended Oakwood
Collegiate. She worked in the Oakville area in that year and participated in “farm service”, a
program to support food production during the Second World War. She remembers being on the
farm when the end of the war was announced. Over the next few years living in Toronto, she
took on different jobs, one of which was at the University of Toronto which was starting up a
public relations newsletter to promote the school to the servicemen returning home.
Margaret met her husband Dal at a resort near Toronto. After only a week, they were engaged.
Following their marriage in 1951, the couple spent their first two years living in a log cabin near
the ranger school at Dorset on the edge of Algonquin Park. She and Dal would look back on
those early days with great fondness. In 1954 their first son Brad was born. The family moved to
Syracuse, New York where Dal pursued his master’s degree. From there the family moved back
to Toronto and the couple’s second son Craig was born in 1957. Later the family moved to
Kirkland Lake for three years.
By the early 1960’s the family had settled in Ottawa’s west end where they made a great life
together. Margaret loved to entertain, and she and her husband cultivated a wide circle of close
friends who enjoyed many evenings together hosting dinners, playing music, and talking into the
night on a wide variety of topics. Margaret enjoyed conversation and throughout her long life
she remained intensely interested in politics, religion, current affairs, and many other subjects.
Margaret was good at her role as a mother, and she took immense pride in her sons’ careers
and accomplishments. She was also very good at her work which included jobs with the
Unitarian Service Committee, Malak Karsh the photographer, and others.
After retiring, Margaret travelled with Dal on many wonderful trips through the UK, Europe,
Canada, Cyprus, and the USA. In her 80’s she took up painting. Margaret’s love of painting and
the skills she developed were a constant marvel to her and her family. One of her favourite
times to paint was in the late evening when it was quiet, her husband had fallen asleep, and the
chores of the day were behind her. It was then that she secluded to the art room she had set up
in their house and in the quiet of the evening this room was her creative domain where she
brought paintings to life conjured from her imagination using whatever was inspired by the
materials with which she worked.
Margaret was a creative person in many ways. She had a gift for storytelling, poetry, and
craftwork. She produced some very funny stories and memorable pictures. She was creative in
her approach to life as well and she brought new purpose to each day.
Margaret cared for her husband in his later years when his health was failing and after his
death, she continued living at Chartwell Riverpark Place. In February 2020 Margaret moved
into the newly opened Timberwalk Retirement Residence in Kanata a month before the Covid
lockdown. During this time, she developed very strong relationships with her fellow residents
and staff, creating the warm and caring family atmosphere she loved for her remaining years.
Margaret made many new friends in this period. She was a good listener, and this trait endeared
her to many.
In her last year Margaret’s general health deteriorated. Despite this, she carried on in a dignified
way determined not to give up but to live the best life she could even with the limitations she
faced. She remained considerate, kind, and thoughtful to the end. The entire family are
immensely grateful for the many wonderful staff and care workers who cared for Margaret at
Timberwalk Retirement Residence including the 3rd floor nursing staff, Dr Howard Cohen,
visiting staff from Home Instead, Bayshore Health Care, as well as Ontario Health atHome. Her
final days and hours passed peacefully surrounded by loving family members and her wonderful
caregivers.
Friends are invited to visit at the West Chapel of Hulse, Playfair & McGarry, 150 Woodroffe Avenue
(at Byron Ave.),Ottawa on Friday, September 27, 2024 from 11am -1pm.
Memorial Service in the Chapel at 1pm. Reception to follow.
In lieu of flowers, donations to a charity of your choice are appreciated.
For those unable to attend in person please view the livestream here.
Tuesday September 10th 2024
Death notice for the town of: Ottawa, Province: Ontario
death notice Margaret Aileen Hall Napier Tuesday September 10th 2024
obituaries notice Margaret Aileen Hall Napier Tuesday September 10th 2024
We offer our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Margaret Aileen Hall Napier Tuesday September 10th 2024 and hope that their memory may be a source of comfort during this difficult time. Your thoughts and kind words are greatly appreciated.
