Obituary of E. Muriel Leitch

E. MURIEL LEITCH ~ The sun has set on a life devoted to, Muriel’s family, her friends, and service to her community. Muriel passed away in Port Perry, on October 22, 2010 in her 96th year. She has now rejoined her beloved Don (Malcolm Macdonald) who passed away in 1980. She lovingly cared for him for many years through all the stages of his Alzheimer’s disease, long before many people even knew of the disease. Muriel leaves behind her daughter, Pamela Fis (Jerry), their children, Zachary (Jessica) and Darcia (Noah), her sister Betty Cumberland and many, many, nieces, nephews and their children – all very dear to her. Muriel’s lifelong service to her community was recognized by Queen Elizabeth II when she was awarded the Golden Jubilee Medal. She also was honoured to receive a lifetime membership in the Hospital Auxiliary of Lakeridge Health, Port Perry. In Dundas, her former home, Muriel freely gave her time and support to St. James’ Anglican Church, the Victorian Order of Nurses, Lions Club Projects, Wentworth Lodge, the Canadian Cancer Society, the Heart and Stroke Foundation, the Lung Association and Dundas District High School, where she worked in the Guidance Department for many years. After moving to Port Perry from Dundas she quickly made many good friends through Church, playing bridge, attending yoga classes, theatre and concert events, travelling, dining out, as well as contributing many hours of service to her new community. She will be dearly missed by the many to whom she was an unfailingly generous and faithful friend, many of whom have departed this life ahead of her. Always proud of her family and spending as much time as possible with them, Muriel was a very devoted "Gram". All of her immediate and extended family is richer for her being a big part of their lives. Special thanks to Drs. John Stewart, Tony Brown and Genevieve Smith, for their care and compassion over the years and in recent weeks when her health took a sudden downturn. She lived life to the max "paddling her own canoe" as she would say, and was able to live on her own until age 92. Thank you to the nursing staff at the Community Nursing Home for your kindness and caring during her stay especially during her final days. The family of Muriel Leitch will receive friends at the Anglican Church of the Ascension, 266 North Street in Port Perry, on Wednesday, October 27, 2010 from 10 - 11 a.m., with a Service to follow at 11 a.m. Private interment Mount Zion Cemetery, Lynden ON. The family requests in lieu of flowers, donations to be made by cheque, through the WAGG FUNERAL HOME, 216 Queen Street in Port Perry (905-985-2171), to the Auxiliary to Lakeridge Health Port Perry, the Anglican Church of the Ascension Memorial Fund, or to the Alzheimer’s Society of Durham Region. Memories and condolences may be shared at www.waggfuneralhome.com