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
Catherine Gray and James O'Higgins
Judith Maxwell
Grete would light up the board meetings at OCF. She welcomed each new board member with her wonderful smile. She knew the history on every issue. And she presided at great tea parties! She will be missed.
Mary Louise Hainsworth
A long life, well lived. Many good memories.
Deborah and Roger Scott-Douglas
We were blessed by Grete’s warmth and kindness the very first day we moved in across from Bain House on Fuller Street 30 years ago — she arrived with her inimitable smile and a plateful of freshly baked muffins. The gesture moved us greatly and captured perfectly her lovely soul — always thinking of others, a deep sense of service, a passionate belief in good deeds, a grand character (the matriarch of Fuller), a determination to get things done and fast. Grete touched our lives profoundly - as she did so many others (even across Canada and around the world)….we will cherish our memories of her.
Margaret Baar
Grete had a passion for her community and her country that is an inspiration to us all. My deepest condolences to all of her family.
Hania Grabowski and Richard Mundell:
Grete was always a friend to everyone. She was the source of many remarkable stories told with wit and charm. A true mentor to many. An inspiration to all. She gave wholeheartedly to her community. She opened her home to everyone who asked and held charity related functions there throughout her lifetime. Grete liked to say that she took instruction from her parents, who raised her to contribute to the community. Grete was always the first one to step up if a volunteer was needed or to contribute to a project. And a smile and grace that filled the room....Oh Grete. We miss you so.
Khristiane Woods
She was a dear Aunt, remembered for her kindness and vision.
Suzie Orbell
A wonderful women whom I’m so proud to call my Great Aunt. She was such an amazing lady and would light up a room when she entered. We were all so lucky to have her in our lives. She will be greatly missed by us all. Sending all our love to the family. Suzie, Rob, Charlie, Sophie and Katie x
Elizabeth Hanson
To all my Morrison cousins. I’m very sorry not to be joining you today. Grete was an inspiring person who bulks large in my memories of Ottawa, of Fuller Ave., and in my imagination of my mother’s girlhood. You are lucky to have had her as your aunt.
Paula Speevak & Menasheh Speevak-Sladowski
We wore our finest hats to watch the beautiful service for a beautiful person. We wish all family and friends gentle healing.
Grete is cherished for her consistently positive, can-do outlook. She displayed a genuine love and caring for her local community and beyond. We admired her and appreciated her and considered ourselves most fortunate to be part of the "Fuller Street" neighbourhood.