Eva Harriet Munro

Age 98 - It is with great sadness that the family of Eva Munro announces her passing on March 24, 2022 at Willow Lodge, Tatamagouche. She was predeceased by her parents Harold and Reta (MacLellan) Campbell, her loving husband John T. Munro and her siblings Kathryn Humphries, Ruth Daley and Keith Campbell. She will be sadly missed by her children Tom Munro (Ilma) of Charlottetown; Kirk Munro (Susan) of Caribou and Ishbel Munro of Tatamagouche. Grammy will be greatly missed by her granddaughter Tausha, her step granddaughter Sara MacDonald and her great grandsons Kayden and Daxon. She will also be missed by numerous nephews and nieces who admired her. Eva was born on June 5, 1923, in Bass River Nova Scotia. It gave her, her love of the sea and the woods. Eva graduated from Margaret Eaton College in Toronto with a degree in physical education. Her first job was as a camp councillor in Hubbards, where they set up tents along the shore. She married John during the war. After the war they moved to Ontario and raised their children there. She involved her children in a wide range of activities including figure skating, art classes, different cultures, canoe trips and walks in the woods. Their home was always a welcoming place for all.

In the 1950’s Eva went back to work at the local YWCA in Weston. Later she became Executive Director of the National YWCA responsible for all their sports and fitness programs. Eva was deeply touched with her work in Regent Park in the housing projects, realizing how isolated the women were. She created a national research project, gathering base line data on women’s fitness levels from coast to coast. Eva developed a method of monitoring heart rates by exercising on a step. She did TV interviews advocating for women’s health at every stop, with her first one being with Adrienne Clarkson in Toronto. After retirement, John and Eva moved back to Nova Scotia and enjoyed many seasons on Pictou Island where they became involved in the Community Association and spent many magical summers with their granddaughter. Eva needed more though and so they moved to Halifax, and she became involved in issues again. Eva was a Raging Granny, dressing in long skirts and flowery hats. They took old songs and wrote lyrics against war, poverty, racism, and pollution which they performed at protests, schools, and events. She worked to diversify the Granny’s by making friends with Black and Indigenous elders. In 2000, Eva organized the national Raging Granny “Unconvention” in Halifax which included the Mi’kmaq Honour Song, a presentation on the Marshal decision and Isobel Knockwood speaking about Residential Schools. She was always way ahead of her time. Eva was an inspiration, mentor and supporter of her granddaughter, nieces, and many young women. She was also a member of the Unitarian Church, Voice of Women, and the Council of Canadians. She was an activist for women’s rights and the protection of the environment her whole life - a feisty Change Maker. Eva always said she wanted a better world for the children and grandchildren. Rest well Eva. We will carry on.

A celebration of Eva’s life will be held on Pictou Island on June 4th. The ferry will leave Caribou at 11 AM and return at 4.

In leu of flowers, donations can be made to Willow Lodge Palliative Care, PO Box 249, 100 Blair Avenue, Tatamagouche NS B0K 1V0