January 23, 1924 – February 27, 2026
It is with sadness, but with peace in our hearts, that we say farewell to our mother Madeleine Cranston. She died peacefully at the Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria BC on Friday February 27, 2026 at the age of 102. She has joined her dear husband Peter Kirkwood Cranston, her beloved son Paul, and all of the other family and friends who went before her, including her 9 sisters and two brothers. She leaves to mourn her daughters Cecilia Cranston, Joan Cranston (Gary Wilton), and her son Jerome Cranston (Kate Wright); grandchildren Peter Cranston (Darine Abboud), Rebecca Wilton (Drew Fisher), Evelyn Cranston (Conor Shannon), and Charlotte Cranston (Sam Watterworth); and her most precious great-grandson Christopher Shannon. Also mourning her loss are all her nieces and nephews; she was the wise elder who remembered so clearly all the details of the family history. It is a mark of the person that she was that she leaves a very wide circle of friends of all ages in Victoria and across the country, including members of Holy Cross parish, many of the staff of the Wellesley where she lived since 2014, and many of the healthcare workers who took care of her in the last four years of her life. She inspired many people; she was described as a “shining light”.
Madeleine was born in Hamilton Ontario; she told wonderful stories of the rich life that she had growing up there during the Depression – rich with family and friends and music. She became a nurse, and worked as a Public Health nurse in Ontario until she met her husband Peter. They were married in 1955 and were wonderful parents to their four children. They left Ottawa when Peter retired in 1987 and moved to Victoria where they joined a hiking group and had a rich social life. Madeleine played bridge and her violin, took a university creative writing course and wrote a detailed family history which is now more of a treasure than ever. She was wise and philosophical, open-minded and curious, and interested in world affairs until the end. Her friends and caregivers told of long conversations about music, travel, politics and nursing. She will be truly missed. It is hard to believe that she is gone, but she is not far away; we will hold her close in our hearts.
Thank you so much to all the family and close friends who enriched her life; there are too many to name here, but you know who you are. Thank you to all the dedicated health care workers who helped her overcome so many challenges and who provided such tender care at the end, at home, and at the Royal Jubilee Hospital.
A funeral mass will be held at Holy Cross Catholic Church, 4049 Gordon head Road on Tuesday March 10th 2026 at 2:00 pm; reception to follow at the Parish Hall. The service will also be livestreamed. Donations to Doctors without Borders/Médecins sans Frontiers, or to a charity of your choice are welcomed in lieu of flowers.
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Sheila Kelly-Blackmore
Joannie, to you and all your family my deepest condolences. Your mom leaves an amazing legacy and a long life’s story. She will live on through you and others. Rest in peace. Sheila KB.
chris MacInnis
heaven is under new management
Ceci
thank you, Sheila 🙂
Felicia
To all those who knew and loved Madeleine, I extend my very deepest condolences.
Dearest Madeleine,
Our time together extended over decades. When I was a child you were kind and friendly and always welcomed me with a smile and your tremendous warmth. As an adult, your company became more precious. You brought joy, intelligence and endless curiousity to every encounter and in spite of all the people in your life who shared your love, you always made me feel special. I miss you. May the angels watch over you. Love, Felicia
Ceci
thank you, Felicia. Mom always was keenly interested in your life and she admired and loved you very much. and thank you for your long-lasting friendship with her and with me
Irvin Peter Van Otterlo
You have the heart of the van Otterlo Family. You always did since 64 years and it stays the same today. Your mom, Madeline, indeed is a “shining light”.
I will so ever recall how your parents helped mine as well. We did become quite close even later in all of our lives.
You honour them well.
Always, honour them.
Ceci Cranston
thank you, Irvin. Yes we will always honour them and be grateful for them.
Sheryl Mearns, retired Wellesley staffff
Sadly we have had to accept that Madeleine’s time to leave her time worn body has come.
Madeleine was a very passionate woman. She loved her family; she loved reading; she loved music and she loved to learn. She didn’t “beat around the bushes”, about any of life’s issues. She had a very special way of making you feel like you were the only person in the world while you were talking to here. She gave you her undivided attention and her response was always thoughtful and her carefully chosen. Her smile was warm and authentic.
She was very proud of her family and rightly so. Her children were extremely attentive and supportive and with her until she took her last breath.
Rest in peace Madeleine. You were an inspiration to all your family but now its time for you to rest with all your loved ones that had gone on before you. They are awaiting your arrival with open arms.
Ceci cranston
that’s beautiful. Thank you, Sheryl. She always appreciated your tremendous support and your artistic flair. One of your rose photos was still on her door.
Gabriel Townsend Darriau
My condolences to my Townsend and Cranston family. It is sad to say farewell to this generation. Madeleine was my great aunt, sister to my grandfather Gordon Townsend who passed almost 10 years ago. Madeleine was the last of the siblings. May they rest in peace and know that we carry their legacy!
Ceci Cranston
thank you, Gabriel! yes, now they’re all up there together, arguing sometimes, laughing and singing alot.
Beth Hacking (Gallant)
Dear Ceci, Joanie, Jerome and Families,
Please accept our deepest condolences with the passing of your beloved mom. There are so many wonderful memories that we share and may you all find comfort in those memories. You are all in our thoughts and prayers.
Beth and Frank Hacking
Ceci Cranston
thanks Beth, we certainly are enjoying those memories. Including some from way back when the Gallants and Cranstons were constantly hopping back and forth over that fence
Rosalie Newton
Madeleine was a very dear friend, always wise beyond words.
My deepest condolences to her family and friends. Rosalie Newton.
Ceci Cranston
thank you, Rosalie. Mom and Dad loved
their visits with you and appreciated your hospitality
Robin Miller
To Ceci, Joni and Jerome you had a very special Mom. My time spent with your mom was very special. Our talks and outings that I had with your mom are very special and always will be in my heart. Rest in peace, Madeleine you’re a special lady.
Ceci Cranston
thank you, Robin. She enjoyed hearing about your and your family’s adventures and appreciated your cleaning and drives and Custards 🙂
Ann-Marie Delworth
Ceci, Joanie & Jerome: We will always treasure the special friendship between our families – so many fond memories. It’s heartwarming to imagine her reunion with Al & Janet (and Peter). Tom & I were delighted to re-connect with Madeleine (and Ceci) with a lovely visit in Victoria in November. Let’s stay connected. <3
Ann-Marie & Tom Delworth
Ceci Cranston
thanks Ann-Marie. She and Dad and your Mom
and Dad had so many fun trips together. That canal boat in England, and at those time shares out West.
Carolyn Saunders
My heart goes out to you Ceci, Joanie and Jerome.
Madeleine was a lovely and perfect aunt. She always made me (and I think others) feel so accepted and loved. I remember when we were little, I thought she was the most elegant person in the world and it was such a mystery how someone so elegant put up with the chaos of nine cousins rolling the rumble box or playing horchidarks. But she did! She was so interesting, and interested in life, and could carry her end of any conversation and make it better. I will miss her a lot. I’m lucky to have called her aunt.
Ceci Cranston
thanks Carolyn. She was indeed. Elegant and interested. And took such delight in things. She loved hearing from you, and your visits
Ceci Cranston
thanks Carolyn. She really enjoyed your visits and hearing from you.
Ceci
thank you all very much. I’d like to reply to each of you more personally but using my thumbs on this phone so much is making me feel a bit unwell. So I’ll be comforted by reading these again in a week or so when I’m home and have my computer.
But meanwhile I really appreciate your messages!!! love to each of you
Annmarie Scanlan
Dear Ceci, Joanie and Jerome and all the family,
I had the pleasure of knowing and working with Madeleine for the last 3 years of her very long life. She overcame numerous challenges that would have profoundly limited anyone else. Her determination and gratitude and zest for life continued through it all. She was so interested in a good story, knowing about travels and shared some great political opinions every time we met. I am better to have known her and wish all of her family my deepest condolences.
Lots of love to you all.
Ceci Cranston
thanks Annmarie. thanks to you and Anna-Marie, she was able to regain her mobility after each new trouble. and she enjoyed your treatments and workouts so much. belting out Harry Belefonte songs as you marched down the halls together
Delta Marando
I am so sorry to hear of Madeleine’s passing. My deepest condolences to the whole family.
I had the pleasure of seeing Madeleine several times on my visits to Vancouver, either by myself or with Michael.
This lovely lady had such a youthful spirit and loved to engage in any subject when I/we visited her. I left feeling light and with a smile on my face. I will miss Madeleine very much. I will find comfort knowing she is at peace.
Heaven has gained a very special angel.
With eternal love, Delta 🙏😞❤️
Ceci Cranston
she enjoyed your visits very much, Delta 🙂
Bonita Kent
Dear cousins Ceci, Joanie, Jerome and all your “Cranston Clan”.
My sincerest solace to you all as you grieve the loss of your mom/mother-in-law/grandma and great grandma.
The silver lining to your grief is that you have had the greatest gift by having her, this remarkable, bolder-rock strong, wise, caring, matter-of-fact , loving , supportive, determined, humourous, with-it, empathetic role model, far longer than most. How many live to be 102 years , and be excited about that as she was?!
Take solace that our inspiring and loving Matriarch is not gone. She is in a new dimension on one side, and here on this side, through her legacy! 💕
Auntie Di was not just my aunt. She was also my friend and confidant over the last two decades, with whom I had the privilege and pleasure of visiting, talking to, laughing & crying with , learning from, and it touched my heart to feel as close to my own mom as the universe could allow! Thank you for sharing your mom. 💝
To quote Jane Goodall…
“You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.”
I am certain it would be unanimous to say that our Madeleine Frances (Townsend) Cranston left only a positive impact.
Xoxo Bonnie
Ceci Cranston
She enjoyed your phone calls and visits so much, Bonnie 🙂
Linda Metters
I feel so blessed to have had the opportunity to spend time with Madeleine in the last few years of her life. As someone else mentioned, she had a way of making you feel as if you were the only person in the world when you were visiting with her. She was always delighted to see you and interested in whatever was going on in your life. Also, she had many interesting stories to tell about her life growing up in a large family in Ontario and her life as a wife and mother. I will miss her very much.
Ceci Cranston
you were such a helpful, thoughtful, interesting, classy friend to her – and to us, Linda. thanks so much
Christine Conlon Keast
We never had the opportunity to meet your Mom Ceci, but from knowing you and after reading all of the thoughtful expressions of love we have a strong sense of her warmth, strength and “gogetedness”! Sending you and your family hugs of support Ceci! Xo xo
Mike and Chris
Ceci Cranston
thank you, Christine !!!
Marie
Dear Cici, Joanie, Jerome, and all the family and friends,
I was so sorry to not be able to attend Madeleine’s funeral yesterday, due to a previous engagement that I could not change. But friends told me about it, and I believe some of you received my message of condolences. I am sorry for your loss. That is a beautiful picture of Madeleine; it captures her essence in many ways. She was such an engaging person. She will be missed.
Marie V. Victoria.
Ceci cranston
thank you, Marie. You and she and Dad and your other friends at Holy Cross shared such interesting discussions as well as your prayers
Michael Marando
My deepest sympathies to you, Ceci, Joanie and Jerome, on the passing of your mom. She was a beloved aunt, and a woman of grace and wit. She will be sorely missed.
Michael
Ceci Cranston
thank you, Michael! she and I enjoyed your and Delta’s visit. and all your cards and letters