Lois Deacon

Georgina Adriana Muir hated her two first names and was always called Lois, even by those who named her. She was born on Halloween in the year 1928. She was a first-generation Canadian of Scottish/Dutch heritage, her father from Midlothian near Edinburgh and her mother from Utrecht. She grew up in Overbrook and attended the Ottawa High School of Commerce. By all accounts she was beautiful, talented, and popular. Upon embarking on her career, she found herself working in the office of the famous portrait photographer Yousuf Karsh. When he was preparing to photograph the Queen, Karsh decided to practice on our mum. He asked if she owned any diamonds (she didn't - yet). Karsh photographed a beautiful and glamorous young woman wearing a ball gown and rhinestones. She met Jim Deacon, we believe, through the "Protestant Girls Club". The purpose of this organization, obviously, was to make suitable matches. It seems to have worked well. When Dad became ill and spent many months in hospital in Montreal, she traveled via train every Sunday from Ottawa to visit him. They were married in 1953 and emigrated to the U.S. a year later. Eventually they settled in Redford and raised their 3 children. There she made many friends. There was a cadre of fellow Canadian immigrant wives, the St. Mary's Guild ladies of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church became a sisterhood, and of course there were other moms of the "Denby Ave. gang". At the same time they maintained strong and devoted relationships with family and scores of friends "back home". The Deacons returned to Ottawa every summer and Christmas, without fail, for nearly 60 years. Throughout her life, Mummy maintained an insistent love of learning. She read incessantly, and was very well informed. If she needed to learn something, she taught herself. She mastered millinery, embroidery, crocheting, and sewing, and made both her daughters' wedding gowns. A great cook, her turkey gravy and stuffing recipes were legendary. She and Dad also loved traveling, and enjoyed trips to Alaska, the Canadian maritime provinces, and several Caribbean cruises. She was especially devoted to the Episcopal Church and they both loved the beautiful language of the 1928 Book of Common Prayer. She adored her four excellent, brilliant, beautiful, talented, fascinating grandchildren. She taught them to eat their vegetables, when they would not do so for their mothers, by dipping them in sugar. She attended countless orchestra, theatre, ballet and athletic performances. No matter what Ian, Connie, Andrew or Rachel were into, Grandma was interested, and would listen endlessly to their adventures. In the last months of her life, when a stroke affected her masterful use of language, she was still utterly capable of commanding the full attention and devotion of both her family and her caregivers. We are told she "ran the floor" of her nursing home with unquestioned authority. We doubt it not. We are grateful to God for her long life together with us, and for everything she taught us. We are especially grateful that she is now reunited with our Dad, who she sorely missed. Blessed are those who die in the Lord. Beloved wife of the late James. Loving mother of Deborah (Michael) Odette, Mark (Patty) Deacon and Elizabeth (Rev. David) Huseltine. Proud grandmother of Ian (Stephanie) Odette, Andrew Deacon, Connie Huseltine and Rachel Deacon. Dear sister of Connie Muir. Memorial gathering Saturday, October 8, 2016 from 10 a.m. until time of memorial service 11 a.m. at Franklin Community Church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions to Angela Hospice.

Lois Deacon

October 31, 1928 - September 28, 2016