It is with heavy hearts and profound sadness that we share the passing of a dear friend of hospice, Margot Brandreth. Margot was a cherished member of the Hospice Georgian Triangle community whose kindness touched the lives of many.

Margot passed away on September 20, 2024, after a courageous battle with cancer. She will be remembered for her fearless leadership and exceptionally positive attitude. When faced with a terminal illness, she made the most of every single day and encouraged others to do the same.

Margot was an influential teacher, loving mother, and devoted wife. She poured her heart and soul into community work including her involvement with the church, volunteerism, and philanthropic leadership.

Margot’s experience with Hospice led her to want to give back to the organization that had helped her and her family so much. In April 2022, she organized a team to participate in Hospice’s annual Hike & Bike with her children and husband Gord.

“The fact that Hospice answered my call for help so promptly and provided such good support in helping me, and my family deal with our anticipatory grief, was at the root of my desire to be involved in the Hike & Bike. Before my own experience, I was unaware of the many services Hospice provides. They gave me comfort, hope and a very worthwhile cause to support.  I decided that I was going to focus on living with cancer rather than dying from cancer.”

Margot’s commitment to hospice care was a reflection of her profound belief in the dignity of every individual’s journey.

Her team for the Hike & Bike is more than 100 strong and has raised $78,065 over the past three events. Margot was also an incredible advocate for hospice palliative care and she spoke at many public events sharing her journey and the impact of hospice care, especially in anticipation of end of life with pain and symptom management and counselling for the entire family.

Margot was a beacon of hope and positivity within our community. Her infectious smile, her compassionate heart, and her unwavering optimism served as an inspiration to all who had the privilege of knowing her.

“Following last year’s Hospice Hike & Bike, a friend who has ovarian cancer said, ‘You’re so lucky. You have a purpose,’ referring to my work with Hospice. As with many people, loving and living for my family is my primary purpose. My involvement with Hospice has certainly provided me with an opportunity to learn and, hopefully, help others,” shared Margot.

As we mourn the loss of Margot, we also celebrate the profound impact she has had on our lives and the lives of so many others. Her legacy of love, compassion, and service will continue to live on in the hearts of those she has touched, and her memory will forever be a source of comfort and strength.

This holiday season we will share more about Margot’s influence and her impact for other patients and their families using the services of Hospice Georgian Triangle.