Isobel MacDougall

1929 - 2022

Just shy of her 93rd birthday, Isobel MacDougall (nee McDougall) died in the early morning hours of June 3rd, 2022 in Ottawa. Born in Innisfail, Alberta to James Colin McDougall and Jessie Brown, both of Liverpool England, Isobel was the sixth of seven children. She was predeceased by her parents and her siblings Jean, Duncan, Colin, Moira, Peter, and Nancy. She was also predeceased by her husband of 57 years D. Bruce (2010), and her children R. Bruce (2009) and Nancy (2010), grandson Caleb Young (2018) and daughter-in-law Kim Martyn (2019). Isobel is survived by her daughters Moira (Russell) and Jane (Lester), and her son Paul (Mary). She is also survived by eight grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren.

Isobel grew up in the Red Deer, Alberta area during the Great Depression. The family moved to Ottawa in the 1940s, and she graduated from Glebe High School, then business school. A legal secretary at Gowling, MacTavish, Watt, Osborne & Henderson law firm, she assisted in setting up the Intellectual Property section of the firm. While there she met the love of her life, a young lawyer, Bruce MacDougall. It was a shared love of tennis that made the match. They married in 1953 and began their life together in Ottawa.

When Bruce chose to leave law and become a United Church minister, Isobel supported him and followed with family in tow. Our family lived in Toronto, Massey, Sudbury and then Hamilton. Mom returned to school to become a RN at age 49, graduating from Mohawk College in Hamilton. With a job offer Bruce couldn't refuse in Columbia, Maryland, Isobel worked on the dialysis unit at a Baltimore hospital. Returning to Hamilton, she became a home-care nurse for several years before they retired to their summer cottage in Southampton Ontario (1993). By this time, she had travelled the world from Tokyo to Paris, Athens to the Isle of Skye in Scotland.

Very active in the community. Isobel started a breakfast club for the local elementary school and was a member of the Southampton United Church and Southampton Tennis Club. Tennis continued to be a source of great fun, Mom and Dad playing on well into their senior years. When not out in the community, Isobel sustained her love of opera and Broadway musicals. Holiday time together was always a highlight. Isobel was dearly loved by her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and close friends.

Isobel moved to Ottawa with Paul and Mary in 2016, as she slowly succumbed to dementia. We want to thank all the staff at the Salvation Army's Grace Manor - Wellington Unit, for their exceptional care these past three years. The family will gather in Southampton to celebrate her life later this year.

A memorial service will be held later this year, date and location to be announced. For updated information on the service please email: isobelmemorialservice@gmail.com.