Obituary of Maureen Patricia Haggarty

June 14, 1952 – Kingston, Ontario

June 30, 2023 – Calgary, Alberta

It's with profound sadness the Haggarty family of Airdrie announces the passing of Maureen Patricia Haggarty (nee Makuk) on Friday, June 30, 2023, after a short but courageous battle with cancer.

She is predeceased by her father Steve Makuk and leaves behind her husband Terry, children, Ryan, Meghan, Colin (Katherine) and Michael; mother Mary Makuk (Donovan), and brothers, John (Terryl) and Patrick.

Maureen was born in Kingston, ON, in 1952 to Steve and Mary. Steve was a welder who travelled where the work was. He would hook up and pull their home behind the welding truck, while Mary drove the children in another vehicle, changing diapers along the way. They had little, worked hard for every penny, and wasted not.

Maureen spent the first twelve birthdays of her life in different parts of this country from coast to coast and up to Dawson City, before Steve and Mary set down roots in Pincher Creek. When she was not busy with her education, Maureen was cleaning and working reception at the family-owned Stardust motel. Maureen spent her spare time (what there was of it) playing basketball, lifeguarding or at the ski hill after Mass on Sunday. She later spent her summers in high school driving back and forth to Oyen where she managed the pool.

Along the way Maureen watched and learned the meaning of hard work, strong faith, independence, tenacity, and family. She was a good student and learned her lessons well. 

Maureen moved to Calgary where she completed her Physical Education degree at the University of Calgary. While attending the U of C Maureen and Terry met on September 28, 1972, the iconic night Paul Henderson scored “the goal” to beat the Soviets in the Summit Hockey series. This is a day that most people over the age of 50 know exactly where we were at the time. They were married April 27, 1974, another day which will be remembered by many. Not only for their wedding but for the record blizzard that shut down the city. If historical events weren’t enough to start off their relationship, Terry and Maureen leaped into their married life by boarding a plane the very next day, embarking on a yearlong teaching assignment in Australia and a lifelong travel adventure. 

Maureen and Terry, moved to Airdrie in July 1978 where they built their first home with the help of Steve and John. They took up residence on the east side of Airdrie, where only a half dozen people were living at the time.

For the next 49 years, Maureen applied the lessons she learnt as a young girl and used those lessons to teach and affect the lives of so many along the way. Not only as a teacher, a neighbour, a member of the community and a friend, but most importantly as a mother to 4 amazing children. She was always so proud of them.

Maureen taught high school for 20 years in Airdrie at OLQP and St. Martin de Porres. Summers were spent as a family forging strong bonds. This may have taken the form of camping trips, time together in the boat or trips around the globe.

Terry and Maureen spent the last 50 years in non-stop pursuit of love, hard work, global adventure, and shopping from the catalogue of life. Throughout their 50 years together, they have been fortunate to visit just about every corner of this planet. It truly would take a book to describe what a wonderful journey their life has been together. 

The family of Maureen Haggarty invites you to view this memorial video of their many happy times together.

Maureen was taken from us suddenly and left us heartbroken. She lived a full life with no regrets, and not a moment was wasted. 

Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Paul's Catholic Church (1305 Main Street, Airdrie, AB) on Saturday, July 8, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. Reception to follow in the Parish Hall at St. Paul's Catholic Church. Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed here.