"I Have Arrived, I am Home"
It is with deep sorrow that the family of Hazel Legate (née Donalyn McCarthy) announces her passing on December 6, 2024, at the age of 74. Hazel passed away peacefully in her home in Bayfield, Ontario, after a courageous seven-year battle with cancer.
Hazel was born on August 19, 1950 in Montreal, Quebec, to the late George and Ruth McCarthy, and was predeceased by her brother, Barry McCarthy. She graduated from Renfrew Collegiate in 1969, Kingston General Hospital Nursing in 1972-1, and Fanshawe College in 1985.
Hazel met John Douglas Legate in 1969, beginning a beautiful 55-year partnership; Hazel and John married in Kingston, Ontario, in 1971. Together, they built a loving family and raised three children who brought immense joy to Hazel’s life: Julie Anne, born in Kingston in 1972; Kira Marie, born in London in 1974; and John Mark, born in Woodstock in 1981. Hazel was proud of her three grandchildren, Russell Cheng Legate-Yang (Julie), Vivian Jin Legate-Yang (Julie), and Shane Peter Thomas Hensley (Kira).
A free spirit, Hazel chose the less beaten path. She always sought the discovery over the next hill. Along with her life partner, John D. Legate, Hazel had many adventures, chasing birds from coast to coast to coast in Canada, southern United States, Mexico, Bahamas, Italy, Nicaragua, Hawaii, and Scotland. 2Birders!
Never to be defined, Hazel pushed beyond expected limits, in several business ventures, building a sea-worthy steel-hulled trawler, two live-in trailers, a beautiful house and outbuildings on a treasured property, and many renovation projects alongside John.
Throughout her life, Hazel found her place and freedom in nature. From a young girl playing in the gully beside her house, to her adventurous travels with John, the love of her life, to the gardens of Bird Crossing and the Secret House, the outdoors were a calming, consistent presence in her life. Her books fueled her rich imagination and were as constant a companion as John. Hazel’s creativity found its expression in her photography, painted rocks, written works, and crocheting. She brought her artistic touch to every home she lived in, decorating with mementoes of her travels, with simplicity, beauty, whimsy (and rocks!).
Her retreat to Blue Cliff Monastery awakened her burgeoning spirituality. Her mindfulness lent itself to her photography, her time in nature, and finding peace within herself in the present moment.
Hazel found joy in the small every day things. She taught her children and grandchildren to be in the moment, to find what you love and do it now.
“I have arrived, I am home”
Shared by Jo-Anne Twamley
We are always willing to go where called upon but this image shows a visual of the communities that our included in our initial transportation fee. We offer a 40km radius from any of our 5 locations (Arva (London), Exeter, Lucan, Seaforth, and Zurich). Any mileage beyond the included 40km will be charged a rate of $2.50/km (one way travel only).
Barb Legate
We all knew a different Hazel. She had so many interesting sides to her. My Hazel had a beautiful laugh.My vision of her is knitting peacefully, in a tidy, beautifully but sparely decorated home. She had an exquisite eye for beauty, demonstrated in her decorating, gardens and photography. Hazel was a thorough researcher- knowing the evils of sugar before it became “common knowledge” for example. I followed your lead and saved some muscle pain – thank you! I envied her contentment with what she had, and treasured how she brought so much joy and depth to my brother’s life. When he was eating ice cream and chips while staying with me, I called him out reminding him he didn’t eat that stuff at home, and he replied “ I am my best self when I am with my wife”. It’s true. Carry her with you John.
Love Barb
Jim Hensley
Hazel’s adventurous spirit inspires me. Traveling the continent in search of nice weather and rare birds, living in a trailer she and John built, seeking peace and mindfulness and her own place in the world. Perhaps we can all find the same courage to take the roads less travelled.
Susan Hensley
Hazel was the friend I never knew I needed. We shared our cancer experiences…fears, hopes, pain, and were able to also laugh about it. She kept me looking forward to the future and helped me with deeper questions that just naturally flowed between us. She was wise and thoughtful and so very brave. I will be forever thankful for the chance to be her friend and get to know her.
My condolences to her whole family.
Sue
Donna & John MacNeil
Our hearts go out to Hazel’s best friend and love of her life, John, their much loved children Julie, Kira, and Mark, and their adored grandchildren, Russell, Vivian, and Shane. I feel that I know you all in spite of only meeting John and Hazel. May you find comfort in your many wonderful memories.
I (Donna)met Hazel and John in Bentsen State Park in Texas. They were so kind as to lug me around on the park’s weekly birding outings. I was just learning to bird and they were already card carrying, bumper sticker displaying, birders!
My husband, John M and I became good friends with Hazel and John and enjoyed many birding trips, a trip to Tuscany and another to Nicaragua, with them. We will always treasure the memories we made together.
Hazel and I formed a special bond with our love of nature, ‘real food’ , travel and sense of adventure, and humour. We were often mistaken for sisters as we walked around most of the time both wearing Tilley hats with binoculars and cameras hanging from us! We kept in touch with our keyboards from just before Covid to Dec. 6/24. It was a privilege to walk the roller coaster road of breast cancer with her but she never let it define her. Her bravery and grace rose above it.
I will dearly miss our conversations, our jokes, our comparing yard birds and lifers, our exchanging pictures and stories and most of all our shared laughter.
In my heart forever.
Donna & John M.
Tom Armstrong
Kira – You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers during this sad time. Even though your mom and I live 100’s of kilometres apart we shared a connection over our love of watching the moon, stars and nature. Sometimes we would share our pictures of the moon we had taken and your moms pictures are always better then mine. Now when I look at the moon and the stars I will be thinking about your mom.
Cathy Stidwill
I have always been amazed at Hazel’s many talents. She could lend herself to many artistic talents, do-it-yourself trades, and natural culinary and horticultural pass-times. I loved her photography the most.
Hazel and my brother, John, loved birding and the outdoors and travelled to many places together. She handled her illness with dignity and an uplifted spirit, with John by her side, caring for her medical, as well as comfort and emotional needs.
Rest in peace, Hazel.
Love,
Cathy
Jo-Anne Twamley
Hazel brought beauty and order to her surroundings. When we moved to Belleville she organized my kitchen for me, something that would have taken me days to do.. I’ve always admired how she created an environment that nourishes the soul in her gardens and homes. I loved seeing her painted rocks and reading her literature choices on Instagram. I’m thankful for the adventures she shared with John and for the wonderful children she raised. I’ll look for your soul as you explore what lays beyond. Jo-Anne
Shane Hensley
I have this vague memory involving her, I’m fairly sure it’s my first. I was sitting in a high chair, and there was some sort of event regarding the royal family on the tv. My mom and Nana were discussing their preferred ways to eat bananas. Nana preferred them with cinnamon, and my mom with peanut butter. I’ll miss you.
Jane Clark
John. Am thinking about you and your kids and this great loss. We have shared history in Woodstock and Kingston. Love, Jane
Julie Legate
Thank you all; my mom wouldn’t want flowers; instead, please consider a donation to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation: https://www.bcrf.org
Jackie Heathcote
I vividly remember laughing about jostling for the same spot on the exercise floor, depending on who got there first…just wish I knew just how creative you were hazel. Those rocks a work of art, very special legacies
Barbara Priestley
Hazel and I met online almost two decades ago and became more than just friends. I considered her a sister, if not in blood, most certainly in mind and soul. Over the years, our almost daily emails shared common loves and interests, from books we read to birds to stories of travels to our beloved families. She was one of the bravest people I’ve ever met. She became such an important part of my life’s journey and I will miss her deeply. Fare thee well, dearest sister of the heart. You meant the world to me. Always and forever, Barb
Tom and Raye Polasek
I remember when we were in Bentsen Palms and every night we stopped to visit at your trailer while Hazel was trying to make dinner. One night she said, “I’m trying to make my man a pizza.” It was wonderful to meet new birding friends. Your friendship has been a fabulous gift.
Love,
Tom and Raye