My wonderful Mother, Ivy Mae Douglas, died peacefully during her sleep on November 27, 2017. She was the matriarch of her proud Hughson family. She was born on March 04, 1921 into a family of seven siblings - 2 sisters and 5 brothers (John, Raymond, Norman, Lawrence, Eric, Carrie Moggy and Eunice Third), at their farm in Manitowaning. She was very proud of her Manitoulin Island roots, but left the Island in 1943, along with a few friends and my future father, Lloyd Douglas, to work in an ammunitions factory in Toronto to aid in the war effort. My parents married in Toronto and moved to Sudbury in 1944 where my father had secured employment as a printer at the Sudbury Star. Together they raised a family of three children: Patricia Douglas of Sudbury, Larry Douglas at Christian Horizons, Sudbury and Sharon Gifford predeceased. Lloyd Douglas died in 1997.
But their “haweater” roots beckoned, and in 1966 they built their camp on Ice Lake, Manitoulin Island. For many years, until my Father’s health declined, they spent ¾’s of the year on Douglas Point, Ice Lake. There, they entertained all their relatives and friends, played euchre until the wee hours of the night, and of course caught the biggest pike and bass that one can speak of. Douglas camp was their “wee bit of heaven” – a beautiful, beautiful spot.
Ivy and Lloyd were long time members of the former St. Paul’s United Church, Sudbury. She was also a member of the UCW.
Ivy loved nature. She would walk with her children and grandchildren along the shore of Ice Lake naming every bird, wild plant and tree. She knew where to find the morels in the spring and the wild strawberries and raspberries in the summer. The beavers, though, were enemy # one, chopping down her beloved trees that they had planted and causing her grandson’s tree house to topple.
Ivy’s health declined in the latter part of her life and required help with her daily living. The family wants to thank all those who helped her maintain her independence and allowed her to live in her own home until the end. ICAN, a not-for- profit organization, provided the most wonderful PSWs to care for Ivy since 2012. We cannot thank them enough for their care and compassion.
Please join Pat and her family – Grandchildren: Robert (Cecile), Sean and Kelly (Kristie) and great grandchildren: Kennedy & Carter Madigan & their mother Barbie Madigan; Ashton Madigan; Luke and Levi Madigan (both predeceased), Jamie Prostler, Candace Van den Borre, and four great great grandsons – Julian, Jayden, Riley and Emmett, at a memorial service to be held in the R. J. Barnard Chapel, Jackson & Barnard Funeral Home, 233 Larch Street, Sudbury on Friday, December 1st, 2017 at 11:30am. Friends may gather after 11am. If desired, donations to ICAN or a charity of choice would be appreciated.