Category: M

McLaughlin, Anne #1024 *

Honoured by Patrick, Lorna, Jennifer and Jessica McLaughlin.

Anne McLaughlin grew up in North Bay and lived here all her life.  She worked at Canadore College for 20 years and enjoyed being with young people.  She had a small circle of very good friends who were there for her through the good and bad.  She loved her family, her home and her friends.  She loved the waterfront, walking its length many times, enjoying what was being done there.  She never missed an opportunity to take her nieces and nephew to the Heritage Carousel and Train.  She enjoyed the rides as much as they did.

She loved the lake and took many pictures of it at different times of day, in different kinds of weather during all the seasons.

She liked to travel but always liked coming home.

She was an inspiration to us with her indomitable spirit, her positive attitude, her outlook on life and her simple enjoyment of time spent with friends and family.

She is missed by all.

Photos at left taken by Anne McLaughlin

Madigan, John Gregory #1971 *

Our Dad: Greg Madigan

Anyone who knew our Dad knew that he could make a lasting impression in a short time.  Thankfully that was one of his strengths as we only had him in our lives for a short time.   However, the strengths and gifts that he passed on to us will last a life time.

The most important insight that our Dad passed on to us was the importance of family.
There were countless times that he sat us down, when we were fighting, and explained that we as sisters were each others’ best friends and that nothing was more important than family.  While we were sitting there we listened, but it wasn’t until we were a little older that that message sunk in.

There isn’t a day that goes by without all four of us talking to each other.  We all celebrate each others’ successes and we are in each others’ corners when one of us is feeling down and out.  Thank you so much for that Dad!

Another insight that our Dad passed on to us was to always speak our mind.  He believed in letting everyone know how he felt, and if he was angry, and then he said what he had to say, and then it was over.

If he was pleased with us and proud of us, then he let us know that too.  Our Father was not a man who let things build and keep them quiet.   Instead, you always knew how he felt, both good and bad, and that form of honesty always kept the lines of communication open and clear.  Again, thank you for that Dad as we are all successful in our personal and career lives because you taught us how to be honest and open.

People used to gather around my dad to listen to one of his infamous jokes.  He could do more impersonations, voices and actions that most considered him a true comedian.  Our Dad loved to laugh and he relished in making others laugh.  This is something that all four of us have taken from him.  The four of us of course find each other very funny and we thoroughly enjoy being together and giggling, but others around us enjoy the “Madigan Girls” senses of humour as well.  Thanks Dad!

One final thing that our Dad passed on to us was the gift of respect.  He raised us to respect our elders, but he also raised us with respect.  In our house we had an open door policy within our home.  There was never a need to close our bedroom doors as there was never any snooping or spying permitted.  Our Dad respected our privacy and our feelings, and because he kept the lines of communication open, there wasn’t much to hide.  We knew if we had something important to say, he would respect us and listen.  He would have words of advice to offer when we were finished, but he would always listen first.

Our Dad raised us with some pretty strict rules, but they were always driven by a deep unending love for “his girls”.  Sometimes people would ask if he was disappointed that he never had a boy, but our Dad never was.  By the mere mention of our names our Dad’s eyes would light up and he would gladly share a story about us that showed his pride and adoration for us.    Though his
life was short, it was one full of faith, devotion, sportsmanship, hard work and an ending love and devotion to our mom.

Our Father left lasting impressions on all us, and there isn’t a day that goes by that he isn’t thought of, and missed.  We all agree that the best “homage” to our Dad is when we unknowingly repeat one of his infamous catch phrases.  You will live forever Dad in our hearts and our minds.  Thank you for everything.

Love, Your Girls xxx ooo

Manley, Ida Mae #1902 *

Ida Mae Manley
1902 – 1980

A good teacher is like a candle – it consumes itself to light the way for others.  ~Author Unknown
This is the story of a descendant of the Manleys and the Fortunes, who settled in Bruce County in the mid 1800’s from England.  My Grandmother was born on Sept. 1, 1902 and enjoyed a typical rural childhood in a Southern Ontario farming community.  After high school she attended the *Stratford Normal School, (1908). This was one of four schools, including the North Bay Normal School (1909), built to increase the quantity of qualified teachers in Ontario and improve the quality of rural education.

Grandma taught from 1923 until marrying John Harvie in 1927.  She gave birth to my mother, Doreen Cook, in 1928.  In 1931 Katherine was born but lived only 10 days.  In 1932 Robert Harvie was born, followed by Raymond in 1934.

For seven years, following the stock market crash of 1929, Grandma’s family endured great hardship. Like many, they lost their property and many possessions in the great depression.  My Grandfather was injured in an industrial accident and passed away in 1935, leaving Grandma to raise three young children.  Together with her widowed Mother, Dorinda Manley, (nee) Fortune, they created a secure, loving home for their family.  Enduring hardship was nothing new for the Fortune family.  Dorinda had relatives who died on the maiden voyage of the Titanic. (A great uncle, Mark Fortune, and his son Charles).

My Grandma returned to work as a teacher in the fall of 1940 and taught in various locations until she retired in 1967.  Both Sons went on to have successful careers in the Royal Canadian Navy.  Doreen`s  lifelong dream was to work in healthcare, and after she and Allan Cook raised their five children,  she became a healthcare aid and worked in Geriatrics for 10 years until her retirement.   My Grandma was her best friend and they were always together enjoying good times with family. Grandma suffered from congestive heart failure for years before and after, she retired. Despite its chronic disabling effects and impairment in lifestyle, she continued to make the most of every day. It was always her passion to be in the service of others, including volunteering for church and community groups, and caring for an aging parent well into her retirement years. She cared for herself through caring for others.

Later in life, Grandma learned how to drive and bought a V.W. Beetle.  Sundays were our day to take the Bug and go for drives, always ending up at our favorite restaurant for dinner.  There was always time for a game of rummy or Parcheesi.  Her kindness, and genuine interest in others; her sense of humor; selflessness; and love of life, were very endearing and exceptional qualities. Her strong character; positive attitude and complete faith in the spirit of humankind are her legacy.

Ontario Plaques

Nipissing University – Current Projects

Encyclopedia Titanica

By – Marion Cook, Nipissing University Alumni – 2005.

Medd, Christopher Scott #323 *

Honoured by his family.

This leaf is dedicated to Christopher Scott Medd who was born on March 23, 1972 in
Kitwe, Zambia to Morris and Beckie Medd.

Chris was a very talented, generous and loving person and put his whole heart into anything and everything he put his mind to; from his family and friends to his work, invention’s, art and poems.  Once he finished high school Chris followed in his father’s footsteps and found himself in the mining industry where he eventually settled in Sudbury with wife Roberta and two sons, Joshua and Zachary.

Chris’s love for his family was evident in all he did with them from camping and exploring to teaching his kids how to enjoy life and find the good in everything.  He was never on time because he would literally stop to smell the flowers and explore all that he could.  He always had a smile and kind word for everyone, even people he met in passing on the street or at a store or wherever he happened to be.

In October of 2006 Chris was in a very serious car accident which resulted in
brain injury as well as losing the use of his legs.  This devastating accident took its toll and Chris spent the next four years trying to put his life back together again, trying to find the right path for his future.

Chris took up computer graphics and poetry and combined the two to tell of his experience of waking up in a hospital to find that his entire life had changed.

After many setbacks, Chris finally decided to move back to North Bay where he spent most of his younger years and where his mother and father currently lived.  In December of 2010 Chris left behind many people whose lives he had touched in some way.

He is missed by so many… his mother and father, his wife and sons, his brother and
sisters, his nieces and nephews, and his many, many wonderful friends.

Now and then

A voice cries out

For help you really need

A voice that’s deep inside of you

Which all your thoughts shall feed

Everybody has this voice

To them it is loud and clear

They want to let these feelings out

But they are gathered up in fear

It is nice to know along the way

There is someone who is there

Someone who will listen

And whose feelings you could share

Life is full of up’s and down’s

And things you do not know

With a little hope and patience

It will show you where to go

~ Christopher Scott Medd ~