SHELAGH KATHLEEN FRASER GOLDSCHMIDT

SHELAGH KATHLEEN FRASER GOLDSCHMIDT February 8, 1906 - October 24, 2015 Shelagh Goldschmidt died peacefully in her 110th year. She was the last surviving child of Colonel Alexander Fraser and Christina Ramsay. Her father was the founder and chief Archivist of the Ontario Archives, aide-de-camp to six Lieutenant Governors of the Province of Ontario, noted Gaelic scholar, prolific historical writer, genealogist, folklorist, educator, lay preacher and editor of the Presbyterian Review and President of many Scottish cultural and fraternal organizations. Shelagh was the beloved sister of Marjorie (Sutherland), Evan, Alasdair, Mairi (Foreman), Peggie (Richardson) and Helena (Ignatieff). She is survived by her nephew and nieces: Ann Mckenzie, Christina Scott, Robert Sutherland, Christina Lubbock, Shelagh Foreman and Joan Klackow. Beloved nephew Nicholas Ignatieff died January 15, 2014. For 58 years she was the wife and partner of the late Conductor and Impresario Nicholas (Niki) Goldschmidt, with whom she travelled widely in search of musical talent to bring to Canadian audiences. Over the years Shelagh enjoyed travelling with Niki to Europe, especially Belgium where she met many of Niki's family and extended family, developing great admiration and affection for Antoine and Leo. Shelagh was a competitive badminton player with her sister Helena, a skilled competitive rider of jumping horses owned by others, caring nurse to her elders, chef extraordinaire and skillful household manager, wartime driver (and informal inspector of clothing) for the UK Inspection Board, loyal friend and counselor to many and a proud and indomitable Celt to the end. Among Shelagh's many interests was her garden and for years, her friend Tony Podnar assisted her in her garden and he continued to assist her in many areas after she moved to her apartment. The family, both local and distant, are grateful to the many friends and neighbours who maintained a connection with Shelagh over the later years of her life, remembering her with flowers and treats and their affectionate regard through letters and phone calls. She was the recipient of excellent care from her doctors, Dr. Heather Gilley, Geriatrician and Dr. Peter Barreca, Physician, both of whom provided the ultimate in professional and supportive care. Over many years, regular visits were provided by retired nurse Alma McTaggart, whose oversight and physical and aesthetic attention greatly enhanced Shelagh's ability to carry on in her own home. Ultimately, she required complete supportive care, which was arranged with great expertise by Rosemary Brown for Seniors for Seniors, whose caregivers were uniformly well trained and effective. For the last years of Shelagh's life Olga Burrell-Cameron and Lorrine Schreck provided competent, caring, cheerful and loving support and for this, Shelagh's family offers them its most sincere thanks and gratitude. There are so many people who have kept in contact with Shelagh throughout her long life filled with friends, adventures, victories and disappointments and the present extended family are mindful of the great support and pleasure she derived from these associations. Visitation will take place at Morley Bedford Funeral Home, 159 Eglinton Avenue West, Toronto, on Sunday, November 1st between 3:00 and 5:00 p.m. Interment will take place at Mount Pleasant Cemetery, 375 Mount Pleasant Road (meet at Mount Pleasant Cemetery office at 12:45 p.m.) at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, November 2, 2015 immediately followed by a memorial service at Glenview Presbyterian Church, 1 Glenview Avenue, at 2:00 p.m. with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to the Canadian Opera Company or the charity of your choice. For further information, please contact Morley Bedford Funeral Home at 416-489-8733.