Obituary of Margaret G. "Peggy" Hope-Simpson (Bowie)

Peggy Hope-Simpson passed away on November 8th, 2019 at age 97 at Evergreen Home for Special Care in Kentville, NS.  Born on July 14, 1922 in Lachine, Quebec, Peggy was daughter of the late William and Ethyl (Bright) Bowie.

Peggy trained in nursing at Montreal General Hospital, the beginning of a life-long career in the health sector including as a VON nurse in Nova Scotia later in life.  She was profoundly impacted by her experience during WWII - caring for returning vets at Sainte-Anne’s Hospital near Montreal, and becoming a widow at 23, after her first husband, Keith Maybee was killed in action within a year of their marriage.  Peggy met her second husband and devoted lifelong partner, David, in Montreal and they married in 1949.  Throughout her life, as an activist in the peace movement and environmental movement, political candidate, and advocate for healthy communities and health care reform, Peggy lived by anthropologist Margaret Mead’s axiom “Never think that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can’t change the world; indeed it is the only thing that ever has”.  In her later years, Peggy was an avid gardener, who was devoted to family as well as friends and the community of Wolfville, NS where she and David lived for over 30 years.

She is survived by their four children, Peter, Ian (Lila), Michael, and Maggie (Derek), their seven grandchildren, Grace, John, Natasha, Rudi, Jasmine, Moira and Martin, and four great-grand-children, Samu, Max, Leo and Paloma; younger brother Bob (Helena).

Besides her parents, Peggy was predeceased by her husband of 64 years, David Hope-Simpson; older brother, Ralph (Irène).

The family wishes to express its deep gratitude and appreciation to all of the staff at Evergreen Home for Special Care, for their kindness and care for Peggy.  Deepest thanks as well to friends, Dale and Gwen, and caregivers Catherine and Marke, for their steadfast friendship, love and support to Peggy, as well as to the Annapolis Valley Quaker community.

A Celebration of Life for Peggy will be held on Sunday, December 1, 2019 from 3:00 - 5:00 pm in the Wolfville Baptist Church, 487 Main Street, Wolfville, NS. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to a charity of your choice.  Arrangements have been entrusted to Serenity Funeral Home, 34 Coldbrook Village Park Dr., Coldbrook, NS, B4P 1B9 (902-679-2822).