BEATRICE MARGARET STEWART (MCDONALD)

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BEATRICE MARGARET STEWART It is with great sadness that the family of Beatrice Margaret (McDonald) Stewart announce her passing on March 8, 2019, just 10 days short of her 103rd birthday. Aunty Bea was born in Kenora, Ontario to parents, Adelaide and Alfred McDonald on March 18, 1916. She is survived by nine nieces and nephews, 29 great-nieces and nephews and 44 great-great-nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by husband Harry Stewart in 1974, and her sisters, Gertrude Duggan and Flora Wise and brother Philip Macdonald. Aunty Bea spent her early years in Kenora where she taught dancing after studying at the Arthur Murray Studios in New York City. At the outbreak of the Second World War she joined the Women's Royal Canadian Naval Service and became a WREN Supply Assistant stationed in Halifax and Esquimalt. After the war she found her niche with the Society for Crippled Children and Adults where she worked for 26 years until her retirement. Aunty Bea loved to travel and she crisscrossed Canada and the United States on many bus tours as well as tours of Europe and Australia. Throughout her life Aunty Bea always gave of herself and contributed, whether it was through volunteering for organizations or her commitment to charity. Her deep faith sustained her and her positive outlook and sense of humour contributed to her appreciation of the small joys that life offers. Aunty Bea's life was filled with good friends and close bonds with her family. A family gathering wasn't complete without Aunty Bea and she always arrived with a wonderful array of delicious baking. She was the family's historian, maintaining and nurturing the threads that bound the generations together. Aunty Bea lived an independent life and up until her passing was living on her own, keeping up with all her family's activities and socializing with friends. She will be very much missed by her family, being a much loved presence in our lives for so long. The family would like to send their sincere thanks to Diana and Sue for the kindness and care they showed Aunty Bea over the past few years. You gave Aunty Bea the most precious gift of independence in these last years. Interment will be a later date at the Lake of the Woods Cemetery, Kenora, Ontario. No flowers please but if you wish, do make a donation to a charity of your choice.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 16, 2019