Obituary of Margaret Mary Briand

Margaret Mary Briand passed away peacefully at St. Martha’s Regional Hospital, Antigonish, on Monday December 23, 2013. She was 89. Margaret was born in 1924 in Dublin, Ireland where she grew into a beautiful and wild Irish rose. She moved to London, England, to find work early in WW II. During her stay there, she met Francis, a young Canadian soldier in Hyde Park. Margaret offered him an apple from her lunch and thus began a love that lasted 66 years. She came to Canada in 1945, as a war bride on the Lady Nelson, and lived in Halifax, N.S. until 1963 when the family moved to Antigonish. Margaret was a devout Roman Catholic throughout her life and was involved in many church groups, including the Legion of Mary and the Catholic Women’s League. She also very involved in her community. She joined the Girl Guides of Canada when her daughters did and remained in the organization for many years, becoming the local Commissioner. She particularly enjoyed her camping adventures with the organization, reveling in her frequent roles as Quartermaster at Guiding camps around the province. She started an Irish dance group so her grand-daughters could learn some of her heritage. Margaret volunteered for many years in the Ladies Auxiliary of Royal Canadian Legion Br. 59 in Antigonish, rising to the role of President. She was also involved with the local Right to Life, the CNIB and with the L’Arch community. Margaret was predeceased by her husband and by several brothers and sisters in Ireland. She is survived by one sister, Patricia, in Dublin, her sister-in-law Muriel (Frank) Baird, Halifax, her beloved daughter-in-law Jackie, children Sean (Irene), Vivian, Kathy, Karen, Kevin (Karen) and Marie, grandchildren Christine, Alanna, Maureen (David), Kevin, Alisa (Clarence) and Colleen, five great-grandchildren. Visitation 2-4 and 7-9 pm Wednesday, January 1, 2014 in MacIsaac Funeral Home, 61 Pleasant St, Antigonish. Funeral Mass 10:00 am Thursday in St. Ninian’s Cathedral, Rev Donald MacGillivray presiding, Burial in the parish cemetery, Donations may be made to the charity of your choice.