DAVISON: Margaret Josephine

Margaret (Madge) Josephine Davison (nee Galligan), age 86 of Goderich Ontario passed away on February 17, 2025 at the Seaforth Community Hospital. Born at home on May 3 1938 in Kilberry, Navan county Meath Ireland. Madge was one of seven children of Charles Galligan and Helena Galligan (nee McIntee) Madge had great memories of playing tennis till the sun went down on the Mckeever tennis court in Kilberry with her best friend Kitty and her winning years with the Camogie team. Madge worked at a department store before immigrating to Toronto Canada in 1965. She worked at Simpson’s department store and later at St.Josephs hospital in Toronto as a secretary.

Her love of adventure and athletics lead her to be part of the Gaelic Athletic Association and the St.Mikes football club in Toronto. She met Desmond Davison at an Irish dance in 1967 and settled in Mimico Toronto, Ontario after their marriage in 1968.

Madge and Des moved to Beeton before building a house near Alliston. Madge was always one to want to help people of all ages. She worked with the elderly for many years at the Good Samaritan as a health care provider and Riverwood Retirement home as a Social Director and working with young offenders at the Thompson Youth center. She had a knack for picking people up who were feeling down, and always seemed to leave a lasting impression on people she met and worked with.

Her love of sunsets and water brought them to Sauble Beach , then to Goderich. They also loved to vacation at their cottage by the sea in St. Shotts Newfoundland. Madge loved to have a full house and welcomed all with her cheeky sense of humor and many cups of tea. She was an avid gardener and won Communities in Bloom in 2007. She loved to sit in the shelter of their covered porch and greet people with a Hello and was always known to be the porch with the dog treats ready to be handed out. There was always plenty of seating available to welcome guests for a chat and strangers running to shelter from the rain. She was a huge fan of watching storms come in, she found them so magical.

She is predeceased by her brothers Sean and Charles Galligan, and is survived by Maureen, Eileen, Conn and Phillip. She will be dearly missed by her husband Desmond, children Martin, Robert and Sheila and her grandchildren Sean, Emma and Declan
A small family graveside service will be held on her birthday at Maitland Cemetery in Goderich.

Madge would encourage all to plant a garden, make sure to fill your bird feeders ,have the kettle on and to keep a sense of humor in life and to pass that on to others.

If you would like to make a donation in Madge’s memory please consider Seaforth Community hospital or the Canadian Cancer Foundation.