Margaret Isabel Harman

HARMAN (née SIDDALL), Margaret
Isabel
Died Wednesday November 27, 2013 in Ottawa, Canada. Born on May 24, 1928 to parents Eldon and Lillian Siddall in Winnipeg, Margaret was the fourth child and only girl, and often referred to the joys and challenges of growing up with three older brothers Bill, Ted and Bob. Pre-deceased by her husband of 56 years, Gary Harman, and survived by brother, Robert Siddall of Winnipeg, her three children Lesley, Edward and Katherine, as well as her six grandchildren Matthew, Daniel, Beth, Sarah, Adam and Mhari. Margaret grew up in Winnipeg during the Depression, and developed into a fun-loving and gregarious young woman who loved sports and school committees. A self-described "jock", Margaret played tennis, swam and skied into her 70's. She first met the love of her life, Gary Harman, at Gordon Bell High School in Winnipeg, and then again when she was studying at McGill University in Montreal, where she earned a Masters of Science degree in 1953 after having graduated from Home Economics at the University of Manitoba. They were wed in August 1954 in Winnipeg, and soon embarked on an enchanted life as diplomats for Canada. Their lives took them around the world, with posts in New York, Ottawa, Prague, Washington D.C., Moscow, Cairo, Havana, Amman, Damascus and Beirut. Margaret's sweet and gentle presence was always appreciated, and her interest in helping in the adjustment of new diplomats to posts was always valued. She was so much more than the "wife of": a charming hostess, a loyal friend, a devoted mother, and a second mother to her childrens' friends. Food was always a celebration, every meal was an adventure. She created cookbooks, entertained with panache, and always had a pot of soup on the stove on cold winter days. She developed her artistic talents in Washington and continued to explore new methods and media until just a few years before her death. She taught Sunday school, and sewed costumes for the childrens' plays. After the children left home, she studied Teaching English as a Second Language and took these new teaching skills to their last few posts. She was a beloved grandmother, Nanny. The grandchildren have fond memories of the clothes that she sewed for them, and of swimming together at the cottage lake. Since moving to Chartwell City Centre in 2011, she endeared the staff and residents to her, and was fondly called "Margarita". Margaret touched many lives and will be deeply missed, but now she and Gary are Together Forever. Celebration of Life at MacKay United Church, 39 Dufferin Road, Ottawa Ontario, Wednesday December 18, 2013, 2 pm. In lieu of flowers a donation to the Alzheimer's Society would be appreciated. Condolences can be left at www.beechwoodcemetery.com