Alma McCubbin
On August 27th, a vibrant, sharp-witted and sharp-tongued woman, Alma left us with dignity after a wonderful, and happy 96 years, leaving nothing on her bucket list.
Born and raised in Winnipeg, Alma met Dean (deceased 2008) while both attended the University of Manitoba. She followed him first to Port Arthur, then to Fort Frances, and finally in 1960, to North Bay. There they raised their five favourite children, and “wooden spoon survivors”; Margaret Ann (Frank O’Hagan), Carol (John Owens), Nancy (deceased 2012), Michael (Christina Karkanis), and Robert (Tanya McKay).
And just look what they started! Survived by her grandchildren Ann Rivet (Scott), Beth O’Hagan (Marc Samuels), Catherine O’Hagan (Adam Chapman), Dean O’Hagan, Meghan Ross (Chris), Michael Owens (Kari), River McCubbin (Samantha Kyle), Lily McCubbin, Malcolm McCubbin (Jessica Desrochers) and Hudson McCubbin (and their mom, Tanya McCubbin). How lucky she was to have so many great grandchildren, many of whom she watched grow into young adults; Liam O’Hagan (Ashley Thibeault), Will and Max Rivet, Quinn and Cole Samuels, Bennett and Eloise Ross, and Andrew Owens.
A woman always ahead of her time, she kept informed and up-to-date, sometimes offering unsolicited advice and blunt observations while working in the Guidance Office at St. Joseph-Scollard Hall. She spent her spare time sewing, weaving, spinning and playing bridge with her dear friends. She was on the computer long before most, researching her ancestry. She was a voracious reader, and as her vision failed, she transitioned to listening to audiobooks, with an iPad or Alexa in every room. She had many years of service as a leader in the Girl Guides of Canada and with the Heritage Gardeners, as a member of the Happy VONderers. The family pool, with its very own flag system, was a meeting place for many generations of family and friends, and she and Dean were always quick with the serving of lemonade and brownies. She never learned to drive because she always said that there had to be SOMETHING she couldn’t do!
A special thank you to Dr. Senior for decades of care. A shout out of thanks to her favourite sandwich-maker, coffee supplier, housekeeper, decorator and “almost-daughter”, Diane Gagne.
Visitation will be held at Hillside Funeral Services on Friday, August 30th from 2-4 pm. If desired, donations can be made to the PADDLE program. She always said she wanted this to wrap up with “Ding Dong, the Wicked Witch is Dead”, so cue the flying monkeys.
Hillside Funeral Services Ltd.
