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In Memory

Iona McAulay (Faculty)

Iona McAulay September 25, 1939 - August 19, 2015 Iona McAulay (nee Everitt) was born in North Bay, Ontario on September 25, 1939. Iona passed away on Wednesday August 19, with her loving daughters by her side. Iona is survived by her husband Jim (James) McAulay of Renfrew, Scotland, daughters Catherine Mercurio (Frank) and Karen Lapointe (Sylvain) and beloved granddaughters Isabella Mercurio, and Marissa and Sienna Lapointe, all of California.

Iona taught school for the better part of 46 years, primarily with the PSBGM at Westmount High School, as a Guidance Counselor and English teacher. In 1984, Iona was appointed Chair of the English Department, a position she proudly held until her retirement in 1998.

The lowest point in Iona's life occurred in 1968 when her children were taken to live with their father and she lost contact and all access to their lives for more than 25 years. During this period, Iona devoted her life to doing for her students what she hoped someone was doing for her own children. In October of 1993, the high point of her life occurred when her daughter, Catherine, contacted her after an absence of 25 years. The years since then have been the most joyous in her life.

Iona felt blessed by the life she and her husband Jim were able to share. They enjoyed many years of travel, photography, shared interests and years in Vermont. Iona leaves Cheryl (Everitt) Haskins, her sister, of Smith Falls, Ontario, her niece Stacey (Haskins) Fedigan of Calgary, and nephews Ryan Haskins of Kitchener and Todd Haskins of Toronto.

Throughout all of this, her contact with former students never ceased to give her ongoing happiness.
 
Published in The Gazette on Aug. 25, 2015