Obituary of Peggy Kane (nee Clarke)

It is with great sadness we announce the loss of our dear mom, grandmother, sister, and friend Peggy (aka Francesca). Margaret Frances was born in Winnipeg to Jimmy and Elsie Clarke on September 15, 1930. She is survived by her half-siblings, Bobby (Shirley), Pat (Leonard) and Jane; children Shawn Trotter (Len), Lori Young (Louis Delesalle), Paul J. Kane (Carla) and Bill Kane (Kim); and grandchildren Laurel, Carly, Trevor (Kelsey), Brianna, and Paul Connor. She is predeceased by her parents and her sister June Lawson; her former husband and father of her four children Paul A. Kane; as well as her life partner Robert Johnston. Peggy spent her childhood through the WWII years in Wolseley with her Clarke grandparents, in Calgary with her Bowmen grandparents, and in Toronto with Elsie while her dad was in the service. She attended Laura Secord and Gordon Bell schools, and she could still recite the old Gordon Bell cheerleading cheer well into her 80s and 90s! She lived with her dear friend Ruth Large’s family during high school. Peggy was often found on weekends at the Wildwood Club playing badminton and curling. She was the Chairwoman of Badminton at the club for years. Playing sports at Wildwood was a key component of her social life and she met Paul Kane there, with whom she married and reached her proudest achievement of having a large and loving family of her own. Peggy was later introduced to the love of her life, Robert, through mutual friends. They met over happy hour one Friday night, and throughout their 26 years together they rarely turned down an opportunity to mingle with friends or family over a cocktail. She loved to host, and whether it was planning a raucous St. Patrick’s Day party or spending the day cooking a mouth-watering prime rib Sunday dinner for her family, she ALWAYS made sure there was room for dessert (Francesca had a sweet tooth!). Working at Air Canada allowed her to indulge her love of travelling, where she met distant relatives and shared stories at old pubs in Ireland, biked and walked (and bussed!) through Europe with her Ya-Ya sisters, sunbathed on the beaches of Hawaii, and reunited all her children and grandkids for family reunions in the mountains or cruising the vast ocean. If you were lucky enough to get to know her, then you know she was easy to love. She was a gregarious, kind, generous and funny person who made long lasting friendships easily. She loved to shop and was always the best dressed in the room (think red hair, big gold jewelry, red leather pants, and cfm shoes—if you know, you know!). You would often find her singing a song or reciting a risqué poem or limerick—anything to bring a smile to others’ faces (and make her grandkids cringe!). The family is immensely grateful to the staff at The Rosewood Waverley and BrightWater Senior Living (Arbor House) for their incredibly kind and compassionate care. She will be greatly missed but never forgotten. She was a bright colorful beacon who lives on in her family and those who loved her. We will love and miss you forever—like a bus. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Siloam Mission 300 Princess Street or to a charity of your choice.