Obituary of Peggy Baird

'Peggy' (Margaret Barbara) Baird 1917-2012 Our dear mother, nana, and friend, at 94 years young, has surprised us all by leaving her sunny days to join the love of her life, John Baird, her late husband (2005). Peggy led a charmed and healthy life full of travel, fun, music and dance, but her core passion was a joyous pride in her immediate and extended family. Blessed and proud to have been a treasured part of Peggy's life are her two daughters, Jennifer (Randy) Reese, and Janet (Jeff Butler) Callaghan; her grandchildren, Vanessa (Boaz) Axelrad, Lindsey Wise and Courtney Wise, Brendan (Kristin) Callaghan, Darcy (Taissa) Callaghan, Miranda Callaghan, Graydon Butler and Eliza Butler; her great-grandchildren, Neeve and Kai Axelrad, Zoe and Dylan Black, Hudson and Redden Callaghan. She leaves niece Maggie Austin and nephew David Austin in Kent, England, as well as dear friend Susan Denmead and her family in London. Peggy embraced life; she was girlish and playful, and defied our definition of aging. She especially cherished her deep friendships at the Health Club in the Bayview Sheppard YMCA where she was likely one of their oldest active members and 'swam her lengths' at dawn, five days a week for over 30 years. She was a role model for many of us in her dedication to fitness and independence, and was until recently, riding public transit to get about the city to take a vigorous role in her day-to-day needs. Peggy was born in England on October 27th, 1917 and spent happy childhood years in Dover, Kent, which is where her vivacity and beauty at a local dance attracted the attention of John, a soldier in the Royal Horse Artillery on leave from serving in India. They married in wartime England in 1941 and after the war spent many years overseas following John's career as an officer in Her Majesty's armed forces, finally settling in Canada, in 1971. Peggy died peacefully on Friday, April 13th, 2012 in Toronto with Jennifer and Janet by her side, holding her until her last breath. Very special thanks to Peggy's friend and angel Pat McMonagle who has been like a third daughter in her kind attentions to Peggy. There will be a service for a celebration of Peggy's life at ST. CUTHBERT'S ANGLICAN CHURCH, 1399 Bayview Avenue on Friday, April 20th at 3:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the North York YMCA. Condolences and memories may be forwarded through www.humphreymiles.com.