Cecilia Bernadette McGrath

Cecilia was born in Meacham, Saskatchewan on December 30, 1937 to Dominic and Anna (nee Hinz) Koob.  Cecilia was the youngest of nine children, 5 brothers and 3 sisters.  Over the years, she shared many stories of her experiences growing up on the family farm.  Cecilia married Michael McGrath on June 11, 1960, and from then on, they started their many adventures together.  After one year in Drumheller, and two years in Saskatoon, they moved to Fort Simpson in the Northwest Territories, and then to Yellowknife where they lived for 39 years.  In 1968, Cecilia and Mike moved to Peterborough, Ontario but decided to return to the north one year later. In 2002, they moved to Alberta and made Calgary their home. Although Cecilia and Mike were busy raising their six daughters, Cecilia always found time to contribute to her community.

Over the years, she was an active member of the Catholic Women’s League, the Yellowknife Ladies’ Softball League, and singing in various musical productions, including several productions of Handel’s Messiah.  Cecilia is fondly remembered by many children she taught in Yellowknife over her 18-year career. Later, in retirement, Cecilia was very involved in activities and events in Sun City West, Arizona where she and Mike spent many wonderful winters.  She is fondly remembered by her many friends for her gift of connecting people with people. She helped to coordinate several annual International Luncheons at Our Lady of Lourdes parish.  Cecilia and Mike were also fortunate to travel to many countries around the world where they learned about different cultures and met many interesting people.  She will be missed by the many people she met and whose lives she touched. Cecilia was very talented with her hands.  She enjoyed the time that she spent sewing for her 6 children and 12 grandchildren over the years.  She also patiently decorated many cakes over the years, including beautiful cakes for her daughters’ weddings. She was a very gifted calligrapher and card maker, a pastime she loved as well.

Cecilia will be missed and lovingly remembered by her husband Michael, and her daughters, their husbands and grandchildren: Betty Anne (Jim) and sons Phillip, Gareth and James Winsor; Joanne (Mark) and daughters Meaghan, Whitney and Courtney Fisher; Michelle; Cathy (Mark) and children Dominic and Natalie Turriff; Theresa (Jim) and children Anna and Auzzie Wooley; Monica (Kent) and children Sean and Audrey Kirkland. Cecilia will also be missed by her sister Louise Stang, her brother Frank (Rose) Koob and sisters and brothers-in-law: Stafford McGrath, Rosalie Senft, and Ron and Trudy McGrath.  Cecilia is predeceased by her parents Dominic and Anna (nee Hinz) Koob; parents-in-law Fred and Marguerite (nee Nieryncke) McGrath; sisters and their husbands: Stella (Daniel) Loehr and Leona (Raymond) Boyle and brothers and their wives: Tony (Mary) Koob, Clem (Clara) Koob, Danny (Helen) Koob, Louis (Mearl) Koob  and brother-in-law Jacob Stang.  Cecilia will also be missed by her many nieces and nephews in the Koob and McGrath families.

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