Margaret Fitzhenry
This website is dedicated to the memory of Margaret Rose Fitzhenry, born June 18, 1953 in Hamilton, Ontario, who sadly lost a short battle with cancer on April 16, 2019 in Calgary, Alberta. She was married to the love of her life, Ken, for 43 years and loved her son Mike and his wife Alison with all her heart. She also adored her ‘kids from another mother’ Rick and Wendy, their partners Sheri and Gaetan, along with the extended Fitzhenry family and a huge King clan in Ontario. Although we have lost a wife, a mother and a sister, we have gained an angel to fill our most difficult days with memories of love and happiness. Instead of walking with us... she now watches over us.
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Margaret Rose came into this earth, and flourished
Margaret Rose King was born in Hamilton, Ontario on 18 June 1953 and grew up on Francis Street. The oldest of seven children to her parents Margaret and Ted.
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High school years
For fun she went to a neighbour’s cottage on Lake Erie with friends and enjoyed family times at Courtcliff Park, Fantasy Island.
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Education and Work
Margaret graduated from Sir John A. MacDonald High School in 1973 and soon after started nursing school in Hamilton. She always knew she wanted to be a nurse and to help people. She worked many hours at Foodland, a grocery store, saving every penny to make her dream a reality. In 1974, she finished nursing school, booked a train ticket to B.C. and was on her way to live her dream.
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Moved to Victoria, British Columbia
Moved to BC to pursue a life of her own, working at the Victoria Veterans Hospital, a place that would become more special in a few months time.
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The day that Marg met Ken
The night that Marg met Ken… they danced to Moon River on shift at the hospital. They were dream makers about to go their own way.
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The Wedding
Marg and Ken tied the knot back in Hamilton, Ontario at St. David’s Church. Some said they would never last…
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The Honeymoon…
An absolutely epic road trip in the ’75 Camaro, travelling from Hamilton through to Disney World in Florida, Nashville, all the way to California, and up the coast back home to Victoria. There were a few hairy moments, Ken had travel sickness so bad they had to make a pit stop at his cousins place in Oregon for a few days to recover!
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Michael was born
Michael Steven Fitzhenry was born in Victoria BC.
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Moved from Victoria to Calgary
Marg, Ken and Michael made the move to 7938 33 Ave, Bowness, Calgary in pursuit of a better life.
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A summer in Scotland
The first big adventure abroad, a month long trip to Scotland to explore the sights and partake in the Scottish piping circuit.
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House Build in Citadel
The family built and moved to 164, Citadel Peak Circle NW, but it would only be a short stay…
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Another house move to Royal Crest Place
By chance and due to market conditions at the time, Marg, Ken and Michael moved to 262 Royal Crest Place NW, the family dream home.
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Empty nesters
Michael moved to the UK following a stint at the Glasgow Art School to chase his dream to play with a world champion pipe band. It was meant to be for a year, but he didn’t come back!
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Trips, Trips, Trips and Adventures
Marg and Ken made frequent visits to the UK to visit Michael, but also spent a lot of time in Hawaii and Mexico in particular. She also returned to Hamilton many times – weddings, special occasions – never forgetting her roots and where she came from. Other highlights include Ireland, France, Germany, Portugal, Hungary, Austria, Czech Republic, Italy, Switzerland, Madeira, Costa Rica, the Caribbean, Panama, Cuba, throughout Canada and the US including Alaska…. some a few times over.
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Retirement at long last
After 32 years at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre, Marg finally retires… well, sort of. She continues to work casual until the day of her diagnosis.
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Alison officially joins the family
Marg gains a daughter in-law with a country wedding for Michael and Alison in Ayrshire, Scotland. What a party!
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Diagnosis, treatment and passing…
Marg was diagnosed with metatastic melanoma in January, 2019 and took it head on with surgery, radiotherapy and immunotherapy at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre. Showing great strength to the very end, on April 16th she passed away peacefully with her family by her side, shortly after hearing a recording of Mike playing Lady MacDonald’s Lament – a tune he competed with at the Northern Meeting Gold Medal competition.