Monica T. Duguid (nee Madden) & Gordon W. Duguid (Col Retired)

Writing a life story for one parent or in our case both parents, is about weaving how our parents lives and their deaths were connected in inseparable ways. Our parents Monica T. Duguid (nee Madden) and Gordon W. Duguid (Col Retired) would have been married 68 years on November 20th and in honouring their lives, their combined funerals will take place on Sunday, November 20th at 2pm at Beechwood Cemetery, 280 Beechwood Avenue, Ottawa. 

Mum and dads' story is about two people who were as close in death as they were in life and inextricably part of each other’s final story. For the last few years, dad cared for mum with unwavering devotion at their home always making sure to surround mum with fresh flowers, caring for their beloved dog Lexie, while trying to cook for an ever diminishing appetite for food that no longer held the appeal it once did. Even with the increasing number of doctor and nurse visits, through Covid restrictions and changing seasons, dad never diminished his outlook nor his love for his sweetheart. Marrying into the military in the 1950's meant military wives gave up on a career to become a super hostess of all things, a single parent, and moving several times to start anew without the support of close friends and family. This generation knew sacrifices were necessary and as such, mum's support for dad and his career was their combined focus. Dad retired as a Colonel in 1988 and his last appointment was to Norad as the Deputy Assistant to the Assistant Chief of Staff Operations for Combat Operations in the Cheyenne Mountain Complex.  

After 23 moves, they came back to Ottawa and on retirement from the Canadian Forces, dad served for another 13 years with Emergency Preparedness Canada. They built their dream home and over the subsequent years, both volunteered in numerous ways that supported their community of Stittsville while doting on us, their grandchildren and great grandchildren. Our mother's career in advertising/journalism whether at Eaton's in Winnipeg and later in advertising meant she was always up on the latest food, decor and lifestyle trends and as such, made sure their home and garden reflected this. Dad would often roll his eyes, shrug and lean into what ever was asked of him as a husband but his sense of humour as a parent reflected his memories of friends and tours of duty that were so well preserved into his memory that even 3 weeks ago he could recite every detail knowing we were always listening and observing how Dad approached a challenge or made a decision. Our last conversation was a reflection about mum who had passed away suddenly on Friday, October 14th. Dad reaffirmed that without mum's commitment to family, career, all the comforts he knew, would not have happened. Less than a week later, Dad suffered a stroke. He spent 3 weeks in hospital and we suspect that just as he had in life, Dad decided he wanted to be with his sweetheart. We are all so incredibly saddened, but we know we were given the gift of time: mum was 91 and dad was 89. Our family includes: Pamela (Rodger Bertrim), Tracy (Steven MacDonald) and Elicia (Sandy Merkley). Gumpa and Nana as they were affectionally known, will be missed by their grandchildren: Neil Smigelski, Marshall and Morgan McMahon, Caroline Merkley, and great grandchildren, Scarlett McMahon, Avery and Hudson Smigelski along with many nieces and nephews. Our dad is survived by his brother, Brian (Joan) Duguid of Lillooet B.C.