A resident of the Garden Villa in Chesterville for the past month, Maisie Banach passed away there on Saturday, November 30, 2013, following a brief illness. She was 87.
Maisie was born on February 9, 1926, in Greenock, Scotland, the daughter of shipyard labourer Francis Gallacher and his wife Cecelia.
As it was not custom during this period for a fine Scottish lass to pursue great lengths of education, Maisie found herself gainful employment as an assistant in a Greenock shoe shop during her teenage years. Helping to provide for her family, Maisie learned and appreciated the value of hard work and a penny earned, lessons that proved invaluable for the events to come over the next two decades: the Great Depression and Second World War.
While the war brought flashes of horror, loss and terror for Maisie and her family, it also produced moments of what proved to be opportunity and ultimately love.
Maisie met a young Polish soldier named Michael Banach at a dance, love bloomed, and they were married in March of 1947. Mike and Maisie wasted little time growing the family as they welcomed their daughters Irene in 1948, and Sheila in 1952.
Looking for a better life than what they had each experienced in the previous decades, Maisie sent Mike off to Canada to find new opportunities for the Banach family. It was not long before Maisie was making that long boat ride across the Atlantic in 1956, with her two young daughters in tow, to discover what was to become of her new life.
Living on Fifth Avenue in Ottawa, hard work and teamwork quickly brought the Banach family prosperity in their new country.
Maisie was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was an excellent cook and baker and her family will always remember the delicious meals and desserts that Maisie prepared for them.
The Banach family enjoyed many good times together at the family cottage on Graham Lake. Even though she couldn’t swim, Maisie was always a good sport. She would float around in the lake on a mattress, singing and laughing and always ensuring that each member of her family had a wonderful time.
Maisie never grew tired of taking her grandchildren for walks over to the Pleasure Park Camp Ground to get a treat or play some pinball games. She was a croquet specialist and a pretty shrewd UNO player.
Maisie always encouraged her family to work hard and be successful and she emphasized the importance of taking initiative. “God helps those who help themselves”, she would say. But she didn’t just voice this, she lived it, everyday.
She was an amazing woman, a proud woman who so greatly cherished the time spent with her family, especially, more recently, her great-grandchildren. Maisie has forever enriched the lives of her family through her kindness, generosity and love, and they will miss her deeply.
Maisie is survived by her daughters Irene (Gary) Pemberton of R.R.# 1 Williamsburg and Sheila (Alistair) Deighton of R.R.# 2 Chesterville. She will be fondly remembered by grandchildren David Pemberton, Amy (Steve) Budden, Janet (Grant) Norris, Mike (Jennifer) Deighton, Chris (Reshma) Deighton and great-grandchildren Emma, June, Olivia, Hannah and Jack. She is also survived by nieces and nephews.
Maisie was predeceased by grandson Alistair Deighton, infant great granddaughter Marah Budden, her sister Margaret Brown and her brothers Dan and Frank Cunningham.
Friends called at the Marsden and McLaughlin Funeral Home, Williamsburg, on Monday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Funeral Service was held at the funeral home on Tuesday, December 3rd, at 11 a.m. Reverend Norine Gullons of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church officiated. Spring interment will be at Iroquois Point Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Mike Deighton, Chris Deighton, David Pemberton, Janet Norris, Grant Norris and Amy Budden.
Donations to Winchester Hospital would be gratefully acknowledged by the family. Online condolences may be made at marsdenmclaughlin.com.
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