NIXON, Margaret Anne (nee Donnelly)

Margaret (Marg) Anne Nixon (nee Donnelly), aged 83, died at home on March 6, 2019 of cancer. She was born on July 25, 1935 in Niagara Falls, Ontario to Mary and Joseph Donnelly. Marg is survived by her devoted husband, Gordon (Gord); her eight children, Cathy Hadubiak (Dave), Gordon Nixon, Joan Robidoux (Marc), Gerald Nixon (Wendy), John Nixon, Mary Nixon (Megan), Derek Nixon (Tricia) and Margaret Nixon (Kiril); her twelve grandchildren, Derek, Megan, Emily, Sophie, Katherine, Desmond, Liam, Finn, Marcas, Poly, Geoffrey, and Jaime; her sister Joan Molloy; her brother Jerry; and her sister-in-law, Olga McCoy (Northern Ireland). She is predeceased by her sisters, Maureen Donnelly and Eleanor Bartels; her brother, Joseph; her sister-in-law, Gwen Carson; and her brothers-in-law, Christy, Ivan, Aubrey, and Derrick Nixon (Northern Ireland).

Marg graduated from St. Joseph’s School of Nursing in Hamilton, Ontario in 1957. After working at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Hamilton for a year, she travelled in Europe and then received her British nursing registration and worked for several months on the open-heart ward of Hammersmith Hospital in London, England. After returning home, she worked as a nurse for Ontario Hydro in Otter Rapids, Ontario. There, she met Gord, to whom she was married for over 57 years.

Marg left nursing to focus on raising their children and raised 4 boys and 4 girls. Their growing family lived in Little Long Rapids, Sarnia, Redbridge and North Bay, before settling in Barrie in 1977.

Once their youngest child was in school, Marg completed her first post-secondary degree, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts from Wilfrid Laurier University in 1984. She then graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Laurentian University in 1993. As family was her first priority, Marg returned to work part-time as an Occupational Health Nurse at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Barrie, where she worked from 1987 to 2000.

From 1993 to 2001, Marg was an active member of the Ontario Nurses Association (ONA), holding the positions of local union representative and then President for the Victoria Order of Nurses for Simcoe County. She was also an active member of the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO), serving as a Committee Member from 1995 to 1998 and on the CNO Council from 1999 to 2000.

After retiring from the Royal Victoria Hospital in 2000, Marg studied foot care and began her own foot care business serving mainly senior citizens in Barrie. Many of her clients became her friends as she enjoyed speaking with seniors and getting to know them. Marg was very committed to her patients and continued to provide foot care services until her 80th birthday. To Marg, nursing was more than a job; it was a profession.

Marg was very fond of her hometown, Niagara Falls, and returned many times to visit over the years. She also loved to travel and travelled with Gord to many regions and countries around the world, including the British Isles, Scandinavia, Israel, Turkey, Japan, Bermuda, Mexico, Australia and New Zealand.

She will be fondly remembered and missed by her family and her many friends and acquaintances for her adventurous spirit, her unwavering zest for life and her steadfast beliefs and faith in God.

Marg sincerely appreciated the care and kindness provided to her by Dr. Matthew Orava of Barrie and all the staff at Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto, especially Dr. Natasha Leighl.

The funeral mass will be held on Saturday March 9 at 10:30 a.m. at St. John Vianney Church, 13 Baldwin Lane, Barrie. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto.