Margaret Elizabeth Brazil (nee Gleeson)

Margaret Elizabeth (Gleeson) Brazil

June 12, 1955 - July 31, 2022

 

               It is with a profound and deep sadness that we announce the sudden passing of a precious wife, mother and friend to many, Margaret Brazil. She leaves to mourn her husband of 44 years, Joe, children Aaron (Miriam + unborn child), Anastasia, and Nathan (Sherry), her mother Mary Gleeson of Peterborough, Ontario, and four brothers, Bob (Mary Jane), Thomas (Anne-Marie), Peter (Sue), and Pat (Maria) as well as a large circle of friends, nieces and nephews. She is preceded by her father Michael Gleeson and her father and mother in law Jim and Mary Brazil.

               Marg was born in 1955 in Kingston, Ontario, but moved to Belleville, Ontario, with her family when she was still a child. She earned a degree in Forestry from UNB in 1979. It is there that she met and married Joe, the love of her life, in 1978. They eventually moved to Newfoundland in 1979, living in a variety of locations before finally settling in Pasadena.

               Marg worked in varied capacities over the years such as forestry lab instructor, environmental technician, model forest educator, webmaster and designer, to name but a few. However the job she took the most pleasure and pride in was as a full time mother to her three children.

               Marg was devoted to her children and loved them unconditionally. She rejoiced enthusiastically in their accomplishments and was there for them at every step of their lives sharing the good and the sometimes not so good times, always there ready to offer her overwhelming support. She was overjoyed to be able to attend the weddings of her sons Nathan and Aaron in 2015 and 2022 respectively.

               Marg was a devout and passionate Christian who lived and shared her faith to the fullest. She was a regular sight at many of Pasadena’s church groups and generously volunteered her time and love to different organizations. Volunteering at the town food bank, creating the church newsletter, and helping with clothing donations were just some of her recent efforts. She was always ready to help with a prayer or private chat to countless friends and strangers. She was sometimes called “The Miracle Woman” as she recovered in 2011 from a difficult 3 year period of progressive multiple sclerosis which had left her severely incapacitated, an illness considered by experts to be incurable. Her recovery was the subject of a CBC Land and Sea episode as well as several media interviews and a newspaper article.  She credited her recovery to God’s healing and the care and attention of a network of friends and family.

               Marg’s love of swimming was legendary. She swam in lakes, rivers and even the cold North Atlantic. When not in the water she could be found on it in her canoe or kayak. She and Joe would also take their camper around Newfoundland as they explored the Province’s breathtaking scenery and abundant wildlife. She also had a fondness for all kinds of animals. A dog could not pass her by without getting a scratch. Horses were often the subject of her affection and cats would gladly tolerate her presence. She also enjoyed cooking and baking much to her husband Joe’s delight.

A  visitation will be held on Friday, August 5th from 2pm to 4pm and 7pm to 9 pm at the Roman Catholic Holy Rosary Church Pastoral Centre in Pasadena. The funeral will be held on Saturday, August 6th at 11 am at Holy Rosary Church with Father Patry officiating. A reception will immediately follow at The Hub in Pasadena. While flowers will be gladly accepted people may in lieu of flowers make a donation to the Pasadena Food Bank, Doctors Without Borders or a charity of their choice.

Funeral arrangements are under the care of Parsons Funeral Home & Chapel, 63 North Main St., Deer Lake, NL. To sign the guest book and leave a message of condolence for the family you can visit our web page at www.parsonsfuneralhome.com