It is with profound sadness that we announce the sudden passing of Margaret Grace Donville (Moniz) on Friday, June 12, 2026, at the age of 83. Cradled in the loving arms of her family, Mum slipped away just before sunrise; watching it rise with family and friends on the other side.
Born July 18, 1942, in Derbyshire, England, to the late Hilda and Fred Bayley. Mum grew up alongside her only sister and favourite Scottish dancing partner, the late Christine Bayley. While living in England, Mum studied to become a dental hygienist.
In 1966, she travelled with friends by boat to Toronto, where she met and married Arthur Moniz in 1969; they welcomed daughter Christine a year later. The family moved to Bermuda in 1972 then to Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, in 1975, and they finally settled in Meaford in 1977. Mum started out working nights at the Meaford Nursing Home in the laundry department while simultaneously training to become a healthcare aide. She eventually retired in 2002 after enjoying many years working at the Meaford Nursing Home.
Years after the passing of Arthur in 1989, Mum was set up on a date with Bernie Donville, whom she would later marry in 2002.
Mum loved to travel; luckily Bernie was able to do a teacher’s exchange in Australia for a year. She later travelled to Japan, California, Vancouver, and all the eastern provinces of Canada as well as a couple of return visits to England. Although she loved to travel, the real highlights of her life came in 2006, 2007, 2010, and 2012 when she became a grandmother four times over. Now with grandchildren, Mum’s love for knitting, crocheting, and sewing were in full swing. Clothes and blankets were made, given with love and cherished with much love.
Mum will be lovingly remembered by her husband, Bernie Donville, daughter Christine Graham (Bev), grandchildren Makayla, Casey, Reis, and Gabriel; stepson Stephen Moniz (Libby) and his son, Michael; stepdaughter Carole Lederer (Carl) and her children, Michael and Christopher, Bernie’s children Emily and Jenn as well as the Donville family.
A Memorial Service celebrating Margaret’s life will be held on Saturday, July 18, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. at Ferguson Funeral Home in Meaford, family will receive friends the hour prior.
As your expression of sympathy, donations to the Grey Bruce Hospice ‘Chapman House’ or Canadian Lewy Body Dementia Information would be appreciated and may be made through the Ferguson Funeral Home, 48 Boucher St. E., Meaford, ON, N4L 1B9, to whom arrangements have been entrusted.
