McMAHON, Alice Margaret (nee Watson)

Alice was born fighting for her life, before the great depression, on August 25,1926, in Orton, Ontario. The Forks of the Credit was her home for her teen years, her married life and most of her widowed years.

By the age of 16, she was working at Victory Aircraft in Malton, helping to build Lancaster bombers. When she turned 18, she signed up for the Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service “WRENS”. Many of her fondest memories are from that time as she served from Conestoga to Cornwallis, Nova Scotia to Royal Roads in BC and then back to Nova Scotia as the war ended. After the war, Alice attended business college and then entered the civilian workforce where she had many different jobs.

She had met Norm when they were just teenagers in the Forks and were married in 1947, after returning from war duties. Together, they raised six children – Lynda, Norma Suzanne, Brenda, Kathi, Carol and Chris.

Alice was a traveler, a poet, a student of history, a choir singer, a bell ringer, a gardener, a volunteer, a raconteur, a bird watcher and a force of nature.

She travelled to England, Scotland, Malta, the Caribbean, Hawaii, Africa and enjoyed many visits to see her children. Carol, Crede and Caileigh in Maryland; Sweden to visit Chris and Jane, Hanna and Patrick; Calgary and Invermere to visit Kathi, Rob, Cassandra and Michael; and Florida to visit Brenda. Visits to Erin to see Wayne and Lynda, Steven and Drew and to Kitchener to see Norma Suzanne were more frequent.

Alice was predeceased by her parents Wesley and Winnifred Watson; siblings Jean Eagles (Clarence D) and Ross Watson, husband Norman McMahon (1993) and daughters Brenda 2018 and Norma 2019.

Survived by sister-in-law Marie Watson, daughters Lynda (Wayne Shannon 2020), Kathi (Rob McAuley), Carol (Crede Calhoun 2022), son Chris (Jane Lindberg) as well as her grandchildren Steven, Drew, Cassandra, Michael, Caileigh, Hanna and Patrick and great grandchildren Cyrus and Erika.

Thank you to all her friends who nourished and sustained her. They are numerous and we are truly grateful for their love for Alice.

Alice spent her last 18 months at Wellington Terrace in Fergus and we would like to thank the amazing staff for their dedication, their ability to go above and beyond and most of all their ability to laugh with her.

Donations to Wellington Terrace would be greatly appreciated.

Funeral Service will be held at Knox United Church 2976 Charleston Sideroad, Caledon Village, ON L7K 0V8 on Thursday, July 18th, 2024 at 11:00 am. Family will receive friends beginning at 10:00 am, Reception to follow. Interment Belfountain Cemetery.

A tree will be planted in memory of Alice in the Dods & McNair Memorial Forest at the Island Lake Conservation Area, Orangeville. 22nd Annual Dedication Service will be held on Sunday, September 8, 2024 at 2:00 p.m.
Condolences may be offered to the family at www.dodsandmcnair.com