It is with profound sadness that we announce the death of Angela Jean Baird Graham on Wednesday, July 19, 2017 in the beautiful setting of St Joseph’s Hospice. She was surrounded by her loving daughters, Gillian, Kathleen and Anne.
Angela was born on March 13, 1925 near Winnipeg, Manitoba. She received her Bachelor of Arts from United College (now University of Winnipeg) and her Bachelors of Social Work from the University of Manitoba. Angela completed her Masters of Social Work at Smith College in Massachusetts. She began her social working career at the Family Bureau in Winnipeg, proceeded to work at the Maudsley and Royal Bethlem Hospital in London, England. She took a break from social work to manage the London Public Housing Corporation for several years and then returned to social work at St. Mary’s hospital in London, Ontario, eventually becoming the head of their Social Work department. Angela was particularly proud of the “On the Spot” group, which she created to help support the Multiple Sclerosis patients in the hospital as well as the Companion Program, which she developed to provide companionship for the long term patients of St. Mary’s.
Angela was a renaissance woman, well suited to her husband John, who was a renaissance man! She was interested in music, poetry, drawing, knitting, reading, social issues and politics! Every evening the television would be turned to Power Politics, BBC World and Charlie Rose so that she could be sure that she stayed “in the loop”!
Angela is pre-deceased by her parents, Gavin and Sara Adeline Baird and by her husband, John Graham, to whom she was married for 58 years. John and Angela had an abiding love for each other and for their children, who feel blessed to have been born to and raised by such thoughtful, creative, industrious, supportive and accepting parents. Angela leaves behind her daughters, Gillian, Kathleen and Anne, her sister, Kathleen (Charlie) McLeod, her brother, Gavin Baird (Lydia Shevchuk) and an extended family including nieces and nephews, Angela and Wayne Rosin, Gordon McLeod, Martha McLeod (Ian Stewart), Brian Baird, Shannon Baird and Doug Baird (Marcie) as well as their families.
The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to Dr. Kathleen McCully for many years of devoted care for both John and Angela. Also, they would like to thank the Internal Medicine team, and Dr. Koivu in Palliative, at University Hospital. Special thanks to all the staff and volunteers at the St. Joseph’s Hospice, who embraced Angela as their own and made such a comforting and comfortable place for her daughters while they focused on Angela during her last days.
There will be a visitation Friday, July 28 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at Harris Funeral Home, 220 St. James St. in London. A service will be held on Saturday, July 29 at 11:30 a.m. at the Quaker Meeting House, 359 Quaker Lane in Coldstream. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to The Society of Friends at Coldstream Meeting (www.canadahelps.org under Coldstream Meeting) or to the St. Joseph’s Hospice.