Sadly, the remarkable Margaret (Peggy Kennedy) Maunder has passed away. She died peacefully in Toronto on May 27th with her children Nicole (Nikki) and Roger by her side.

Peggy was a unique and wonderful woman. Highly intelligent, extremely resilient and the most independent person we knew. She was beautiful and turned heads wherever she went. She had an excellent sense of humour and laughed so easily in her loud and distinctive way. She cared so deeply about her family, friends and animals. She was always there for anyone who needed her and she was fiercely loyal.

She never complained despite many of the hardships she experienced over her life. She could be pessimistic, although she preferred the term “realistic.” We didn’t blame her, given the deck of cards she had been dealt. Born into a family of privilege, she lost her mother Mercedes Halley, her father John Kennedy and baby sister Patsy all before she was seven years old. Peggy and her brother John moved to Chicago with a stepmother who provided inadequate care. She was grateful for a loving couple nearby “Uncle Bud and Aunt Betty” who helped her and John throughout these tough years. They were eventually moved to a Catholic Orphanage near Chicago.

In high school, family members in St. John’s invited Peggy to visit for a few weeks over the summer. She took them up on the offer…and never left. She was the belle of the ball – a beautiful American in St. John’s in the 1960s. She met many new friends, was captain of the volleyball team and excelled at school. She loved St. John’s and the kindness and sensibility of Newfoundlanders. She was home.

Peggy became a Registered Nurse, studying at St. Clare’s Mercy Hospital. She loved her years in residence and we will always remember the stories we heard of her adventures with her friend Jean. They especially enjoyed their time working near the American naval base in Placentia. Peggy spent most of her nursing years in the Maternity Unit, followed by some time in the Psychiatric and Palliative Care units. Her closest friends were mostly those she met through nursing.

After nursing school, Peggy met and married local athlete Roger Maunder and they had two children. Although they eventually divorced, Roger remained a close and trusted friend especially in her final years. He could always make her laugh.

Growing up, Peg was a super mom. Despite crazy shift work at the hospital, a second job homecare nursing and two successful battles with cancer, she never missed a baseball game, ballet, piano or school recital. Nothing made her happier than filling the back of her car with a gaggle of kids and driving to Holyrood to spend the day at the swimming hole. She had the patience of Job. Nothing rattled the woman. She was calm, collected and poised all the time.

Peggy was always ahead of her time. We are pretty sure she was the first person in St. John’s to buy hair mousse, self-tanning lotion and a Betamax player. She taught us to be thoughtful, kind and respectful of everyone – regardless of colour or station in life. She was liberal and open-minded.

Peggy was also shy and introverted. If she wasn’t laughing with friends, she could be found reading a good book, watching movies (mostly horror!) and spending time with her beloved dogs – Kessler, Jake and Bolt.

She dearly loved her son Roger and was always very supportive and proud of all of his endeavors. She also loved his wife Jill and his children Sidney, Declan, Clare and Ida.

Peggy spent the past 4 years in Toronto with her daughter Nikki, her equally dog-loving son-in-law Brad and her grandsons Adam and Sidney. They enjoyed walking the dogs, trips to Tim Hortons, having a glass of wine and spending time together.

Cremation has taken place. A Celebration of Life will be held in St. John’s at a later date when it is safe to do so. Fond memories and online condolences can be made in the guestbook. There is also a photo album to browse. Please feel free to add your own photos.

“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I, I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.” Robert Frost