Peggy Ann Georgina (Aldom) Galbraith

Peggy Ann Georgina Galbraith (née Aldom) was born in Toronto, Ontario on February 22, 1951. Peggy passed away at the age of 72, on April 26, 2023, from the effects of Lewy Body Dementia. She is survived by her husband, John Galbraith, her children, Tracey (Gus) Goutos, Loreli (John-Mark) Cockram, Mark (Leslie) Galbraith, Rebecca (Robert) Cripps, and her 10 grandchildren, from oldest to youngest: Mallory, Sophia, Jack, Lucy, Sam, Charlotte, Thomas, Elijah, Bridget, and Vivien.

Peggy was daughter to Richard and Murielle Aldom (predeceased), younger sister to Rick (Carolyn), David (Sandy) and John (Patricia) Aldom, and older sister to Marjie (Jerry) Smith. Her childhood years were spent on the family farm in Ravenshoe, Ontario. From a young age, she enjoyed expressing herself through drawing, painting, sewing, and singing. Peggy attended a one-room school house in Ravenshoe for Grades 1-8, graduated from high school at Huron Heights Secondary School (Newmarket) and attended Seneca College (North York) for nursing.

Peggy and her childhood family worshipped at Maple Hill Baptist Church, in Keswick. This is where John and Peggy met in their teen years. John would come over for Sunday dinners at the Aldom farm, first as a friend of Peggy’s brothers and eventually as Peggy’s fiancé. He was captivated by Peggy’s beauty, her big eyes, her sweet disposition, and her feistiness. They married on December 19, 1970.

Peggy was well known for her domestic prowess. She was exceptionally resourceful and always imaginative. In the early years of marriage and motherhood, the soundtrack of the home was often the whirring of Peggy’s sewing machine as she made her family clothes, coats, curtains, and bedspreads with repurposed fabric. The one home-keeping art she couldn’t quite perfect was cooking. It became a running joke that you knew it was dinner time when the fire alarm went off.

Etiquette was a passion for Peggy. She taught a charm course for young ladies at Keswick Christian Church and, later in life, would invite her grandchildren to formal dining experiences in her home both to enjoy their company and teach them to engage with others with courtesy. She put her insights into practice, hosting people in her home as often as she could.

Peggy applied many of her skills and passions to volunteer work in the churches she attended. She primarily led children’s ministry and decorating projects. A Sunday School Superintendent for many years, she didn’t shy away from large-scale undertakings, such as transforming the church basement into the magical land of Narnia or entering a float annually on behalf of the church in the Keswick Santa Claus Parade. Through the years she served humbly while adding flourish to the visual environment, painting a mural in the nursery or creating the backdrops for the Barrie Free Methodist Christmas Cadenza held at the local theatre. She was also faithfully supportive of local and global missions, such as running a sock drive for people experiencing homelessness or being a child sponsor through Compassion Canada.

Peggy was drawn to helping roles in her work. She found her niche in medical administration. She especially enjoyed her role as a surgeon’s secretary where she could utilize her organizational and people skills. One doctor, who became a good friend, related that the very first act that he witnessed from Peggy was one of kindness and selflessness. Peggy was being interviewed for the position, but offered her interview spot to another candidate who was booked after her because this young mother had to pick up her child immediately after the interview. Compassion was deeply ingrained in Peggy's character.

An encouraging note that Peggy received from this doctor who she served for many years said, "Just to let you know: I have had ongoing outstanding reports about you from patients. They find you extremely pleasant and comforting. Keep persevering. It's great to see a demeanor that matches one's faith."

Peggy was well known for her love of lambs. She was impacted by understanding her faith in the context of Jesus Christ as a sacrificial lamb who took away the sin of the world and who loved her personally as his lost lamb. Peggy was comforted by the image, which she learned from her own mother, and passed down this spiritual inheritance to her children and grandchildren. She wanted them to know how much Jesus meant to her and to invite them into a relationship with him.

Peggy will be remembered for her fun-loving spirit, her strong Christian faith, her devotion to her husband and family, her defence of the vulnerable, and the beauty she brought into the world.

Donations can be made through Canada Helps to Grove Park Home, the long-term care residence that served Peggy and her family so supportively in her final years.