Surrounded by the prayers and love of her family, Beatrice peacefully passed on to rest in the arms of Jesus on Tuesday, August 6, 2013 (Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord). She was born on June 6, 1916, in Transcona, Manitoba, the daughter of William Patrick Duggan and Florence Ellen Mahoney. Predeceased by her husband, Frank Grey (1993); her parents, her brothers Jack, Homer, Harold and James and her oldest son, Richard Grey (2005). Beatrice is survived by her youngest brother, Gerald (Kenora); her remaining sons, Gordon Francis (Nancy) and Rev. Fr. Ian Charles; her beloved grandchildren, Alexander, Rebecca, Andrew (Andrea), David (Catherine), Kathryn and Christopher; her great-grandchildren, Rayna, Jace, Adrian and Callen and many loving nephews and nieces. She will be missed by the many friends she has made over her 97 years. Raised in Redditt, Ont., Beatrice graduated in nursing from Misericordia Hospital (Winnipeg, 1938) continuing on to post-graduate studies (Boston), then nursing at St. Joseph’s Hospital (Kenora, Ont.), public health nursing in Winnipeg and finally serving her country as a Lieutenant Nursing Sister in the Canadian Army where she met Dr. Frank Stuart. They were married in St. Ignatius Church (Winnipeg) in 1945. Beatrice, Frank and the 3 boys came to Victoria in 1954 where she quickly became involved in volunteer and charity work with St. Patrick’s R.C. Parish and School, St. Joseph’s Hospital, St. Louis College, the Catholic Womens’ League and Development and Peace, making substantial contributions in all endeavours. In retirement Beatrice and Frank remained very active in Church life as well as travels north (Arctic Ocean), south (Georgia), east (Rome) and west (Hawaii) as well as many points in between. She fulfilled her greatest dream, to visit the Holy Land, in 1995. Beatrice happily lived the last 14 years of her life at St. Clare Villa right next door to her beloved St. Patrick’s Parish.
Evening Prayer Vigil will be held at 7 pm on Wednesday, August 14, at St. Patrick’s Church, 2060 Haultain St. (Oak Bay). Funeral Mass of Christian Burial is on Thursday, August 15 (Solemnity of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary) at 12:10 pm at St. Patrick’s Church. A reception will follow in the parish hall, followed by burial at Ross Bay Cemetery. Her family is deeply grateful for the many who have served and assisted her in her senior years and for the many prayers and Masses offered during the past weeks. In lieu of flowers a donation may be made to The Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace, www.devp.org. Condolences may be offered below.
McCall Bros. Funeral Home
www.mccallbros.com.
19 Responses
June 6, 2015. Mayme, today is your 99th birthday…(6/6/16)! It has been 99 years since Grandma Duggan heard your first breath in Transcona and almost 2 years since I was there for your last breath in Victoria. So much wonderful, courageous, loving. brave, blessed and happy moments happened through you from God. I remember so fondly your birthdays over the years on bright, summery June days in our back garden on Cadboro Bay Road. You made every celebration in the family so special. “Dreams may be gone, but dreams are not forgotten!” Things are getting a bit tough and difficult so please keep up your help and blessings and consolations for me and for us all. We are in plenty need of your love and guidance. Say Hi to Grandpa Frank, Richard and all the rest there with you. I miss you so much…our time together for over 5 years were the best of my life. I wish I was there! Thank you for all you have done and continue to do. Lovingly and always remembered! Ian
Mayme, it is hard to believe that it is one year since you went to Heaven as it seems just like it was yesterday. Today I tried the best I could to honour the special moments of this special day. I had a special “In Memoriam” placed in today’s Times-Colonist newspaper. I telephoned Uncle Gerald in Kenora, I concelebrated Mass at St. Patrick’s at noon. Many of your friends were there. I planted additional special flowers in the grave site at Ross Bay Cemetery. Remembering the difficult evening hours of August 6, 2013 I tried to honour them by saying the Rosary in your room at the same time Gordon, Nancy and I did last year…which turned out to be within the hour of your death last year. I turned on the humidifier again and plugged in the monitor just to have the familiar background noises again. It is too quiet around here. Now, as I write this, it is 7PM and the very poignant hours begin as it was from 7PM to midnight that was the most difficult time last year. Calling Gordon and Nancy and saying, “I think Mayme has passed away!”…waiting for them…waiting for the nurse to come….and then the long wait alone till after midnight for the people to come to take you away to McCall’s…..and watching you leave your home for the last time.I so regret not going down to the funeral coach with you.There was one very special and beautiful consolation I received from you at the end of the Rosary this evening. On your bed was your picture (a recent one), the “Jerusalem Stone Crosses,” one of the many log books from which I was reading the events, as recorded, of this day last year as well as the few days before and also Grandma Duggan’s rosary (which you used daily and I use now.) At around 6PM the sun had moved around to the west window of your room and a strong, beautiful beam of sunlight gently but suddenly fell directly on your picture, the two Crosses and the Rosary. The bright sun on your eyes in the picture was captivating. Your eyes had a strong look of life. There was a message of joy and peace in your eyes…and the eyes are the “window of the soul.” The two music boxes were playing and the door to Heaven was again so near as it was at the moment of your last breath one year ago. Thank you for the beauty of these moments. The day did not unfold in the way I had anticipated and planned…but the way you unfolded it to me was beyond anything I could have imagined. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
“Dreams are gone….but dreams are not forgotten!”
With much love and longing, heartbreak and hope, pain and peace I will try to forge onward…but “L’l Mayme, I need your help and continued guidance. Thank you for the consolations this evening and during this past year.” Ian
“With the passing of wee Harold so soon,
The Good Lord sent them Beatrice on the 6th of June.”
(From the GOLDEN YEARS by Homer Duggan)
Happy Birthday, Mayme!! Yes, today is the 6th of June, your 98th birthday. It is your first Birthday in Heaven. We hope “wee Harold”, Grandpa Duggan (who had his 130th Birthday yesterday!!), Grandma and all your brothers and sister in Heaven, Grandpa Frank, Richard and all the other friends we have in Heaven join you on your little pink cloud and have lots of fun! You used to tell us of the fun you had “sharing” your 2 day-birthday party with your father, William Patrick Duggan, every year when you were a little girl. We remember all the fun we had on your birthday over the years, too, specially your recent birthdays at St. Clare Villa. Today is also the 70th Anniversary of the D-Day invasion. June 6th was both D-Day and “Bea-Day” for us. We remember how you explained to us your birthday in 1944 with the news of the invasion on everybody’s mind…how on that day your day did not begin with “Happy Birthday” but rather….”Bea, it was just on the news that the invasion has begun!” (Marg Holmgren, your nursing friend). Today we celebrate the 98th anniversary of the first day of your earthly journey…we still remember with bittersweet feelings the last day of your earthly journey exactly 10 months ago today. Please continue to pray for us and help us, Mayme. We think of you every day and pray for you. We love you and we miss you! Happy Birthday!
From Gordon (Nancy), Ian and all your loving family.
Dear Father Ian,
Your Mom was the soul of graciousness and I offer you my sweet memories of her: Israel; our Spirit Days in Victoria with her; her visits to SFA Parish and the teas. May you gain strength now in knowing how much she meant to me and to all our SFA staff.
Linda Knappett (aka Silent K)
Dearest Father Ian and Family,
Your mother was a beautiful soul and a loyal member of our Parish not just under your stewardship but after you left. Her kindness in supporting our parish and those most in need will never be forgotten.
May the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, support and console you;
The Immaculate Heart of Mary, inspire and lead you
and all the Holy Angels and Saints, intercede for you.
Know you are all in our prayers.
With great love.
St. Anthony’s CWL
Dear Nancy, Gordon, Fr. Ian and Family,
We are deeply saddened hearing about Mrs. Stuart’s passing. Please accept our heartfelt sympathies for your loss. Our thoughts are with you and your family during this difficult time. May God’s Grace strengthen and be with you.
Anna & Alejandro Carranza Family
Hi Nancy and Gord,
I saw the obituary in the paper, and wanted to let you know how sorry I am for your loss. I’m happy that she had so many wonderful years to be with all of you.
You have been in my thoughts and prayers,
Krista
Our deepest condolences on the loss of your beloved mother. You are always in our thoughts and prayers.
To Father Stuart, Gordon and Nancy and family,
We want to express our deepest sympathy for the passing of your mother Beatrice. She was a very special lady. We will miss her very much and always keep her in our heart. We pray that one day we will reunite with her. May she rest in peace.
God bless all of you at this difficult time.