Isobel Ursula MACKENZIE

1928 - 2022

ISOBEL URSULA MacKENZIE Isobel Ursula MacKenzie, who was born in Yellow Point, B.C., on September 25, 1928, to Colin Cameron and Dorothy Cameron (Wilson), died in Ottawa on May 25, 2022. Raised in a CCF family on Vancouver Island with her three siblings, she graduated from the University of British Columbia in chemistry and began graduate work in chemistry at the Banting Institute, before interrupting her studies for motherhood. Married to Archie MacKenzie (Decd. 2014) in 1951, she followed his journalism path from Atikokan, to London, UK, Montreal, Ottawa and Washington, D.C., before returning to Ottawa to stay. There, Tib taught chemistry at Elmwood School, English at École Cours Claudel, and then became director of family daycare at Andrew Fleck Children's Services, where she had the great good fortune to work with a passionate and dedicated team. After retirement, she and Arch hiked the parklands on both sides of the Ottawa River; travelled widely to, among other places, Greece, India, Turkey, Scotland, and Italy; and revelled in their circle of close friends. Tib was a fiercely devoted mother to her three boys and an adoring matriarch to her grandchildren. She was the happy, stylish centre of her family. In addition, she was a vivid figure in political and diplomatic circles in London, Washington and Ottawa. Survivors include sisters, Margaret (Meg) Sears and Christina Nichol; sons, Colin (Lorrie Huggins), Alex (Beatrice Hampson) and Malcolm (Dana Miller); grandchildren, Rebecca, Alison, Duncan, Charlotte, Malcolm, Alasdair and Lachlan; four great-grandchildren: John and Thomas Denomme, and Frances and Charlie Belfontaine; as well as devoted nieces, Kelly Haggart, Linda Nichol, and Astrid Cameron Kent. Her brother Euan predeceased her. The family thanks the caring staff on the second floor at the Rockcliffe Retirement Residence who helped make Tib's last few years comfortable and cheerful. Memorial to be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Anne Mozersky Memorial Fund at Andrew Fleck Children's Services (afchildrensservices.ca/contact-us/donations/) would be welcome.