MCCARTER, Patricia Jocelyn McCarter

With great love and gratitude for her long life, we announce the passing of Peggy McCarter on November 28, 2025, at the age of 103.

Predeceased by her loving husband, Alec McCarter, Peggy is survived by her 4 children, 9 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren. Born on August 10, 1922, in Victoria, BC, Peggy spent her childhood in CPR railway stations along the Fraser and Thompson Canyons, where her father served as station master. During the Depression, her mother was known for leaving dinner plates on the fence posts for men riding the rails in search of work. In return, they would gratefully chop wood or make small repairs before sitting down to a warm meal. Peggy carried this quiet generosity throughout her life, always finding ways to support those facing life’s challenges.

Independent and adventurous from the start, Peggy was known to cross the Fraser River (just above Hell’s Gate) standing in a bucket and pulling herself hand-over-hand along a rope pulley, all before she turned ten. The thrill of the Silk Train racing through their station on its urgent journey east inspired her lifelong love of fabrics, fashion, and design. Curious and bright, she devoured books, and once confidently told her teacher that the stars were far away and larger than the Sun—only to be dismissed with, “Don’t be foolish; they are mere pinpricks of light.” It is no surprise that Peggy was later sent to boarding school in Vancouver, where the young composer Jean Coulthard Adams taught her piano and sparked her enduring passion for music.

Peggy met Alec at UBC, later joining him in Toronto, where they married and she typed his doctoral thesis. She worked as a model to support them in their small room on Spadina Avenue. As their family grew, they followed Alec’s academic career, and Peggy built a warm and welcoming home wherever they settled. She became an extraordinary cook, created beautiful gardens, and hosted visiting professors and their partners from around the world. She studied Russian, art history, and painting, keeping her brilliant mind engaged and forming lasting friendships along the way.

Travel became an important part of their lives. Early adventures took the family tenting through Europe, exploring gardens, cathedrals, art galleries, and ancient ruins before the postwar tourism boom. Later journeys included grand hotels, bargaining in the Casbah, snorkeling in the Caribbean, and canoeing on remote Canadian lakes. Peggy swam, practiced Tai Chi, and gardened until her stroke.

Peggy spent her final decades at Glengarry Hospital, where the staff created a sense of belonging and care that carried her peacefully through her final years. Her companion’s kindness, laughter, and steady presence brought light and comfort to Peggy and to her family. The family extends heartfelt thanks to the staff of Glengarry Hospital, her companion and neuro-physiotherapist for their exceptional care.

No funeral service by request. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Peggy’s name to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada.