Daughter of the late Margaret Cotter and the late Cecil Morrison; wife of the late Reginald Britten Hale; sister of the late Jean Pigott (late Arthur), Gay Cook (late Robert), and the late Lydia Morrison; Aunt to John Pigott (Elizabeth Thackray), David Pigott (Janet Riedel), MJ Pigott (George Kearney), Don Cook (Fiona Murray), Kelly (nee Cook) Kubrick (late Geoff Kubrick), and her many, much loved nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews here in Canada and in Britain.
Grete graduated in Journalism from Carleton University in 1954. She joined her father’s business, Morrison Lamothe, where in 1967, she was responsible for the 20-foot cake at Canada's 100th birthday party on Parliament Hill, that was cut by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Grete served as President of Morrison Lamothe from 1978 to 1989 and Board Chair from 1989 to 2005. She served on dozens of corporate and community boards. A respected businesswoman who famously kept an on-time agenda, she was also an active and dedicated volunteer who never hesitated to wade in.
Among the many organizations she served, Grete was President of Beechwood Cemetery and Foundation, where she fought for its very existence for all Canadians; founder of the Friends of the National Library of Canada, and Honorary Life Member of the boards of CANHAVE Children’s Centre and the Community Foundation of Ottawa. She was the recipient of many awards, including the Order of Canada, wearing her pin with great pride. Grete served as the first-ever female Honorary Colonel of the Governor General’s Foot Guards from 2011 to 2013.
She had an immense network of friendships that spanned countries and decades. She took enormous joy in nurturing those relationships through travel and phone calls. She will be missed by all.
Her life was blessed in every respect. She lived life to the fullest in her service to God, community, and country.
Details of Events:
Book of Condolence – There will be a Book of Condolence available to the public the week of Monday, November 21st to Friday November 25th at Beechwood National Memorial Centre (during office hours 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.). Please come at your leisure if you wish.
Public Visitation – The Beechwood National Memorial Centre on Tuesday, November 22nd from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. and on Thursday, November 24th from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m.
A Memorial Service - To be held in the Sacred Space of the Beechwood National Memorial Centre on Saturday, November 26th, 2022, beginning at 1 p.m. Followed by a reception.
Virtual Memorial Service - Please pre-register to join us online on November 26th, 2022, beginning at 1pm Eastern Standard Time: Livestream Registration
Donations - Should you wish to honour Grete’s memory, in lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Ottawa Community Foundation’s Margaret and Cecil Morrison Memorial Fund or Beechwood Cemetery Foundation.
Link: https://www.ocf-fco.ca/funds/en-margaret-and-cecil-morrison-memorial-fund/
Link https://beechwoodottawa.ca/en/foundation/foundation
Photo Credit: Paul Couvrette
Digital Guestbook
Susanne Patricia Hudson
Jo Sturdy
Grete was a cousin by marriage to my father. I have wonderful memories of Grete, her warmth and caring hospitality. Thank you dear Grete, you are a true inspiration to me. With love.
Jo Sturdy
Grete was a cousin by marriage to my father, I have very happy memories of times spent with her on my two trips to Ottawa. She was caring, kind and generous and had the biggest heart. I will miss our transatlantic chats and am so grateful for the wonderful times shared and great conversations. A very special lady.
Carol Lutes-Racine
Saddened to learn of Grete's passing. She touched the lives of so many throughout her long and productive life . Truly a life well-lived. Peaceful rest to you dear friend.
Roseann Runte
Grete was more than a leader, she was an institution. She was more than a role model, she was a friend. Her community was the world and her intelligence and energy were key to her many accomplishments. She will always be remembered as a great Canadian.
John and Louise French
Grete was a pillar of strength and dedication for our community. Ottawa and Canada owe her so much. She will be greatly missed by so many family and friends.
Senator Pat Carney (ret) PC CM OBC
Dear Grete, beloved friend and fellow Mayflower
Marc Cappelli
My deepest sympathies to Grete’s family on her loss. I had the privilege of knowing Grete through her sister Gay Cook. Grete and Gay hosted many dinners at their heritage home, related to the annual fundraiser “Baskets with Panache” which benefitted underprivileged children to attend summer camps and curriculum-based school trips to the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum (Ingenium).
Grete accomplished a great deal in her life; however, I will always remember her sharing with dinner guests, the wonderful moments of her business and family life through stories about her home. Grete was elegant, dignified, and a consummate story teller.
Denise Smeaton
Mrs. Hale had a unique ability to make you feel seen and heard. She shared this with me many times and for that I will always be grateful. She exemplified walking through the world with grace, and kindness.
Denyse Trask
A life well lived with so very many wonderful accomplishments.
I can still here Grete interviewing candidates for a job at Morrison Lamothe, when I was working there. She was describing how, as Board Chair she took clothes to the dry cleaners. We chuckled about it after the interviews. Nothing to too big or too small for her to take on.
When my mom came to visit from Newfoundland, Grete invited my mom (both the same age) whom she had not yet met, into her home for tea. From that point forward they exchanged Christmas cards for many years. A truly remarkable person with such a big heart. My sincerest condolences to the family. Grete will be missed.
I met Grete in 1988 and with her considerable help I became the publisher of Canadian Geographic magazine. And that started a long friendship. After I returned to Toronto we would talk every year and I attended a Financial Post dinner with her when she was voted ‘Financial Post Business Woman of The Year’. Grete was an exceptional woman and I feel so fortunate to have known her.