Margaret Diane Augustus, 85, passed away January 22, 2024 with family by her side.
Mom lived most of her life in the Oshawa and Whitby area before moving to Port Hope. She was a proud mother and adoring grandmother and great-grandmother, an artist and a free spirit.
Mom was also a woman of courage. Not courageous in the way you run into a burning building to rescue a cat but courageous in a stoic and determined way.
As a young woman with five small children she suffered a near-death, life-altering illness. Mom fought her way back to us and over the years triumphed over many challenges.
When she found herself a newly-single mother she met the challenge with great strength. She worked for a small law firm in Oshawa to support her family before striking out on her own as a freelance real estate conveyancer. When technology eliminated her job she continued to re-invent herself.
Mom was an artist who loved to try new mediums. She sewed clothes, drapes, cushions and many costumes for her children and grandchildren. It was not uncommon to open the gift of a nearly-finished outfit from mom - to be completed ASAP: her creativity was not always accompanied by timeliness but we loved that about her. Her beautiful quilts adorn many a family member’s bed and her folk art will be cherished.
In 2019, when a distracted driver put mom in hospital for months and ended her ability to live independently, she soldiered on. She accepted the loss of independence with grace, learned to accept group living in a retirement home, and worked hard to overcome life-changing injuries. Mom continued her precious sewing by offering alteration services to the personal support workers who cared for her and made cloth masks by the dozen when the COVID pandemic sideswiped the world.
Pre-deceased by her mother and father, Dorothy and Harold Augustus, her brother John, son James Anderson and granddaughter Julie Walker.
She will be lovingly remembered by her children Joanne (Frank) Burghardt, Michael (Carol) Anderson, Brenda (Archie) Walker, and Jillian Anderson; her daughter-in-law Heather Anderson; ten grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. Dear sister-in-law to Rica Anderson and to Carol Augustus - the sister she never had.
We are grateful to her friends and caregivers at Carriage House Retirement Residence in Oshawa, Aspira Empire Crossing Retirement Living in Port Hope, the palliative teams at Northumberland Hills Hospital, the Central East LHIN, and Ed’s House Northumberland Hospice. And to her long-time doctor, Dr. Omeed Hadisfar, who always advocated on her behalf.
When grief passes we will remember mom with wonder and enduring love. Her life will be celebrated at a private family gathering. Arrangements entrusted to THORNTON CEMETERY & FUNERAL CENTRE, 1200 Thornton Road North, Oshawa, 905-579-6787.
The family encourages memorial donations to Ed’s House in Cobourg as it works to expand its much-needed end-of-life support services.