Maureen Haddow

Maureen Anne Haddow – a highly skilled nurse, enthusiastic Montrealer, and the life of any party – died Thursday, August 12, 2021, in her apartment on the side of her beloved Mount Royal. She was 70 and had endured a long illness.

Maureen was born in Montréal March 23, 1951, the daughter of Margaret and Stuart Haddow and the younger sister of Paul. She grew up in Notre Dame de Grâce, in St. Augustine’s Parish. Quite ahead of their time, her parents immersed her in French at École NDG. Throughout her life, her fluency brought her joie de vivre in every sense. After attending the Villa Maria and Queen of Angels Academy, Maureen studied nursing at Montréal General Hospital. She graduated in 1972, complete with a starched white uniform and a nurse’s cap. That was the start of more than 40 years in the operating room, where she was known as a first-rate colleague, skilled, intelligent, and caring.

With the exception of a brief stint in England – more on that in a moment – her entire career was in only two hospitals. She spent years at the Montréal General before moving to the Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria, BC, around 1980. Her parents also moved to Victoria, where she cared for them. After they passed away, she returned to the Montréal General in 2003. She was so happy to be back in Montréal, roaming the streets, enjoying the spectacles, and going to rock concerts in English and French with friends half her age.

In late 2014, an email dropped out of the clear blue sky. In England as a young woman she had met and was briefly engaged to Dr. John Fozard before they decided they were too young. Skip forward 40 years. John was widowed, and Maureen was single. John found Maureen on Facebook, and after some transatlantic dating they were married in 2015. Though the marriage ended, it was a love story from the best of the meet-cute movies.

Maureen was a character, always equipped with a quick wit, good stories delivered with gusto, gag gifts from the dollar store, and a desire to try just about anything. She would be friends with anyone and was truly at home in the bubbling pot of Québec culture.

She is survived by her brother Paul Haddow, sister-in-law Mumtaz Puna, cousins, nephews, nieces, and many friends. Burial will be in the family plot in Notre Dame des Neiges cemetery on Mount Royal, just as she wished. May she rest in peace forevermore.

Memorial Reception

All are invited to share memories at a memorial reception to be held Saturday, September 18, 3:00-5:30 at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel (salon C2) in Montreal. The memorial should be an occasion of shared memories and good stories; Maureen would not have wanted it any other way. In keeping with the times, the hotel requires a Quebec vaccination passport or, for those visiting, appropriate evidence of vaccination. To help in planning, an RSVP is appreciated but not required. If you are staying overnight at the hotel, please contact us for the code for a discounted room rate.

Kevin Quinn: [email protected], 406-438-6559 (cousin)

Paul Haddow: [email protected], 613-842-4449 (brother)

Catherine Marchitto: [email protected], 450-465-7473 (friend)