Nancy Sidaway

Margaret Nancy Lydia Sidaway, BA (McGill), neé Dawson

Born Margaret Nancy Lydia Dawson in 1923 in Montreal, Nancy was the only child of a Canadian father George Dawson and Scottish mother Lydia Dawson, neé Paul. Nancy grew up in that city, albeit with many visits to her relatives in Ontario and Manitoba. She was active outdoors. She graduated from the High School of Montreal and received her BA in languages from McGill University, where she served as the Vice President of the Philosophy Club. After graduation, she worked for the International Labour Organisation and the CBC, among others.

In 1950, she married her high school sweetheart, George Sidaway, and they had four daughters: Daphne (Harald) on Vancouver Island; Althea (Pedro) in Mexico; Naomi (Robert) in China/Spain; and Elspeth in France. Grandchildren include Astrid and Fraser; Hrothgar, Elspeth, and Iñigo; Emrys, Alaric and Cadfael; and Megan. Great grandchildren are Benton, Isabella, and Leonardo.

In 1972 the family moved to Toulouse, France, where George worked for Airbus. Nancy pursued her passion for languages, teaching English as a volunteer for decades and doing translation work. Her English study group, which met weekly at her house, resulted in long-term friendships as they studied grammar and literature. She was the language ‘go-to’ for everyone. She leaves behind many friends in France.

Nancy enjoyed working and reading in her garden and had a complex watering system supported by many family members. We had to move the flowerpots for plant health before any summer trip. Nancy liked cats and almost always had a dog; from her first dog, Blackie, to her German Shepherd, Bruce.

She travelled extensively around Europe, mostly with George, and visited their far-flung daughters. She very much enjoyed her first trip to Scotland in 2004, particularly her visit to her mother’s hometown of Campbeltown, Kintyre in Argyllshire. In 2013, after George’s death in 2002, Nancy returned to Canada and stayed with family near Victoria, British Columbia.

Nancy was a long-time congregant of the Knox, Crescent, and Kensington Presbyterian Church in Montreal; worshipped at the English-Speaking Anglican Church of Toulouse; and more recently joined Saint Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Victoria.

Always an active volunteer, she supported church, Guiding, ballet, and school activities; she also sang in church, university, and many community choirs.

Nancy had passion for making clothes, including exquisite smocked dresses, and also knitted complex and gorgeous sweaters.

She combined her Presbyterian faith and love of language every day. In her kitchen Nancy breakfasted while over-looking the Canal du Midi, which runs from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic Ocean. As she sipped coffee, she would compare the Bible written in Greek with its translation into Spanish. Weeks later, when done, she would start comparing a translation into another of her languages!

Nancy, Mummy, Grandma was well loved, always cared for her family, and we will miss her!