EILEEN MARY McGEE

It is with great sorrow that we announce the sudden passing of our beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and aunt on Friday, Oct. 9, 2009 at her home in Fort Frances, Ont.
Eileen Mary McGee was born July 3, 1924 to the late Patrick and Loretta Armstrong in Stratton, Ont. She grew up helping out on the family farm, where she developed a strong work ethic and taught herself how to play the guitar, organ, and accordion.
As her music abilities developed, she was given the opportunity to establish a career as a professional musician. She played at local dances and public events with her family band, The Armstrong Orchestra, and later in life with The Norlund Funtimers.
Christmas and birthdays were always made extra special when she pulled out her guitar or played the piano.
Eileen was married to her best friend and husband, Donald McGee, for 50 wonderful years. They professed their love for one another on June 21, 1949 and later made a home for themselves and their eight children in Fort Frances.
Eileen spent the years raising, guiding, and loving her children. Her unyielding faith and love of God was one of her most admirable qualities. She has embedded her love of life and God into each of her children and grandchildren.
We are given comfort in knowing that she is now living in Heaven with the Lord and the great love of her life, Don.
Eileen was well-known throughout the community. She never passed anyone by without a friendly hello and conversation. She was an excellent listener and always gave freely of her time to family, friends, and anyone who was in need of help.
Eileen was the foundation and cornerstone of her family. Family relationships and the well-being of her children and grandchildren was always her first priority. Eileen always encouraged family unity and often could be found out and about with one of her children or grandchildren; whoever was fortunate enough to spend the day with her.
She continued to throw her great Christmas, Easter, and Hallowe’en gatherings and always was the life of the party. She often was found telling jokes and acting silly; anything that might bring laughter to those around her.
We will miss her laugh, her smile, her energy, her zest for life, her talks, her advice, everything. Eileen McGee was truly one-of-a-kind, and always will be treasured and cherished by family and friends.
Eileen was predeceased by the love of her life, Donald Patrick McGee; her parents, Patrick and Loretta Armstrong; brother, Dennis Armstrong (Evelyn); sister, Theresa Norlund (Elmer); brother-in-law, Minard Whalen; sister-in-law Ella Mae McGee; and brothers-in-law, Cliff and Henry McGee.
Eileen leaves to mourn and will be sadly missed by her children, Ron McGee (Rachel), Colleen Campbell (Ken), Phyllis Kellar (Lynn), Eloise McGee, Cheryl McGee, Lois McGee, Rosanne Zimmerman (Bernie), and Tammy McGee; sister, Evelyn Whalen; grandchildren, Marianne McGee (Franck), Michael McGee (Amanda), Tiffany Campbell-Woodward (Curt), Tamara Sinclair (Erik), Chris Kellar (Tianna), Miranda Kellar, Vincent McGee (Dana), Danielle, Brandon, Dustin, and Vanessa McGee, and Joshua, Nathan, Rebecca, and Elijah Zimmerman; great-grandchildren, Shae and Avery Sinclair, and Kingston Kellar; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A visitation will be held Thursday, Oct. 15, 2009 at 7 p.m. at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Fort Frances, Ont.
A funeral mass to celebrate Eileen’s life also will be held at St. Mary’s on Friday, Oct. 16, 2009 at 11 a.m., with Fr. Francis Pudicherry celebrating the Eucharist.
A luncheon will be held after the funeral, with interment to follow at Holy Cross Cemetery in Fort Frances.
The pallbearers will be Michael McGee, Curt Woodward, Chris Kellar, Erik Sinclair, Vincent McGee, and Joshua Zimmerman.
The honourary pallbearers will be Ken Campbell, Lynn Kellar, Bernie Zimmerman, Rachel McGee, Evelyn Whalen, and all of Eileen’s grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and friends.
Should family and friends so desire, in memoriam donations may be made to St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, 206 Victoria Ave., Fort Frances Ont., P9A 2B9 or c/o Green Funeral Home, P.O. Box 427, Fort Frances, Ont., P9A 3M8.
Online condolences may be offered at www.greenfuneralhomefortfrances.com
To our mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, friend;
You paint our world with vibrant colours,
You are electric and magnetic.
Your hugs warm our heart and calm our fears,
Your gentle voice sooths the soul.
Your unyielding faith comforts many,
You are a pillar of strength.
Our memories are everlasting,
As our love for you will never fade.
We love you, we miss you.