Edith Mary (Lowe) Heaton

HEATON, Edith Mary (nee Lowe)

Passed away Friday morning, April 29 2022, at the PRHC with family by her side. She was in the palliative care unit for less than a day, and was hospitalized for less than a week. She was one tough lady, and the depth of her illness was shielded from all, including herself, by her strength, tenacity and drive to be well.

Born March 27 1935, Edith grew up in Lancashire England, and fascinated her family with many stories about her young years living through World War II and its aftermath. She was a successful student, had loving grandparents nearby, was very involved with the local Methodist church, and keenly hiked the moors and Lake District with friends as a teenager. She left her parents Frank and Alice and her two younger siblings and emigrated to Canada at 19 with $50 in her pocket, following her beau Kenneth Byron Heaton who had left months earlier, and they were wed in Toronto in 1955. With her office machine skills and references from school, work and church, she was immediately able to find employment and had a successful career in Toronto for 9 years. She and Ken were avid outdoor enthusiasts and spent many weekends exploring the Ontario outback in their Volkswagen Beetle with a canoe on top and two dogs and their gear packed inside. 

When their son David came along, Edith thought she was taking a 4 week maternity leave, but almost immediately made the decision to stay home full-time. For 13 years she dedicated herself to raising David, Kim and Liz, and insisted she never once regretted her decision. In that time the family moved from Markham to Millbrook, and Edith threw herself into the community, getting involved in the local minor hockey and figure skating organizations. She eventually purchased a small deli and moved it to the main street . The Millbrook Deli was a downtown feature for many years with its eclectic group of “regulars”. You could buy imported specialty items, deli staples, or enjoy delicious and varied homemade meals, baking and catering - always served with a bit of sass from the owner!  Whatever was going on in Millbrook, Edith seemed to have a hand in it, and managed her business, her volunteering, the bookkeeping for Ken’s custom furniture business, the household and the many needs and wants of her children and varied and beloved pets with seemingly absolute ease and humour.  She was a force. 

As a “nana” to her five grandchildren, she was exemplary. She was involved in the daily lives of David and Robbie’s three children, Samantha, Eric and Sarah; and she would travel for extended stays with Kim and Michael and their two children, Alexandra and David, wherever they might be living at the time. She was a get-on-the-ground-and-play kind of nana, and absolutely immersed herself with the kids.  She and Liz shared a special bond and were always there for each other over the years, and she’ll be dearly missed by Liz and John. 

After Ken died in 2000, Edith (or “Ma Heaton” as she was locally known) continued with the upkeep of the house and property in Millbrook as best she could, often with the help of her wonderful neighbours. Eventually Kim’s family moved in, first as tenants, and then eventually purchasing the house and property, and Edith continued living there until the end of her life.

She loved her family fiercely; she loved animals, she loved company, she loved the outdoors, and she loved Millbrook.

Along with her three children and their partners and five grandchildren, she is survived by a brother Frank Lowe and sister Gillian (Lowe) Watkins as well as sister-in-law Pamela Heaton and their families in England, and extended family here in Canada and the US who will miss her humour and barbed-tongue presence. 

The family thanks the very many who have already reached out with words and gestures of condolence.  They ask that in lieu of flowers a contribution to the Millbrook and District Foodshare or Peterborough Humane Society is considered.  Edith’s family will be hosting a Celebration of Life on the Millbrook property, 661 County Rd 21, on Sunday May 29 from 1-4:30pm and would love to hear your memories and stories of Edith if you are able to join them. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Edith Mary (Lowe) Heaton, please visit our floral store.