Carole Alma Maguire (Fraser) was born to William Thomas and Mary Irene Fraser in Binscarth, Manitoba December 4, 1934. The family moved to Waskada, Manitoba where she would reside with her two older brothers Bill and Gordon. She was very musical and excelled at the piano so was soon asked to play in her brother Bill’s band. After high school she went to Normal school in Winnipeg where she earned her teachers certificate. Her first job posting was in the Elgin School teaching Grades 1&2. She met and married Howard Maguire on July 14, 1956. They took up residence on the home place “Three Springs Farm”. There 4 children were born: Joanne 1957, Sharon 1959, William (Bill) 1962 and Douglas 1963.
Being a small-town gal turned farmer’s wife she pitched right in with growing and harvesting a huge vegetable garden, sewing clothes and playing the organ at the United Church. She began the Jr. Choir at the United Church so the kids could develop their musical talents and families as a whole would be more invested in church attendance. In her spare time, she taught piano lessons to local children. With social life centered around the rink in the winter and the Elgin Dam in the summer, many deep bonds were formed. Memories of curling in the ladies’ league, creating and sewing costumes or figure skating outfits for the Winter Carnival or shelling peas at the Elgin Dam while kids were taking swimming lessons will always be with us. It was noted in the Echoes of Elgin that in 1966 a kindergarten class was established by Mrs. Harold Maguire and Mrs. Howard Maguire.
She was a substitute teacher at Hartney High School and then developed a music program in the Souris Valley School Division. Time was spent building our cabin at Oak Lake which was a nice getaway for summer weekends and Christmas/New Year’s Eve family times.
When the farm sold in 1975, they moved to Brandon and she once again taught in a few schools. She did the bookkeeping for Howard’s Nuts and Bolts, then worked at Pittsburgh Paint and Glass. Howard and Carole enjoyed travelling to Hawaii and Arizona before buying a trailer in Weslaco, TX at Pine to Palm Resort. When Howard passed in June 1992, Carole continued to travel to Texas for another 14 years. She always treasured the friendships she developed with the other “snow birds”. She took up residence in Brandon’s Lions Manor from 2000 to 2023. She was on every committee there was, taking different positions from Secretary to President of the Victoria Seniors Organization. Her love of music brought her to participate in Barbershop Belles (Women in Harmony) for the past 48 years. She was a hard worker and never said an unkind word about anyone.
She is predeceased by her parents Tom and Mary Fraser, her husband Howard, her brothers Gordon (Elsie) and Bill Fraser, and her son in law Bruce Fehr. She will be missed and cherished by her children, Joanne Fehr, Sharon Robertson (Ian Myerscough) Bill Maguire (Kim Smith) and Doug Maguire (Elaine Lobreau), her grandchildren Amanda Aaron (Jonathan), Shelby Fehr, Danica Holm (Justin) and Mallory Robertson; her great grandchildren Raegan and Gavin Holm and Forryst Aaron as well as many nieces and nephews.
Funeral service was held at the Elgin United Church, Elgin, Manitoba on Friday, August 30, 2024. Private interment in the Elgin Cemetery. Donations can be made to Women in Harmony (c/o Naomi Russell, 334 Aberdeen Avenue, Brandon, MB, R7A 1N4.
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So very sorry for your loss. Enjoy your memories. She was an awesome lady with a great sense of humour!
I was so sad to hear this news, what a great lady she was and what a great fun life she shared with your dad. Doug and Cathy Cowan
Your mom lived a good life. Loved her smile and determination. Glad you were all together to celebrate her this summer. Hugs
Sandi & Trevor
It’s hard losing a Mum, hugs to all the family! Sincerely Cathy Phair
Our deepest condolences. Your mom’s smile always lite the room up.
Sympathy to her family!
So sad to read of Carole’s passing. She was a great friend during our Texas years together. Absolutely loved her sense of humor and infectious laugh. Condolences to her families. Mae and Bill Day.
I’m so very sorry for your loss. Please know your all in my Thoughts and Prayers. Special Hugs to Kim and Bill
We are sorry to hear of your Mom’s passing. Our thoughts are with you. Sudsy and Jeannie
Sorry to hear of Carole’s passing. Howard and Carole were great neighbors. I spent many hours at your home babysitting. Carole was a beautiful pianist and played for our wedding. Many wonderful memories. My condolences.
What a great lady Aunt Carole was! So busy, so happy, so forthright, so honest and so loving. I have many happy memories of our time together as cousins at the farm under the supervision of the many “Aunties”. What fun we had and how many hiding places we found in that house and yard while playing hide and seek! Our last of the “Wesley Maguire” sons, daughters and inlaws. We will miss her, but all of you can rest easy, as she knew how much she was loved and cherished by all of you. My heart felt condolences to all. Love, Debbie Maguire
So sad to hear of Carole’s passing. We sure are thinking of you all. It’s hard to lose a mom at any age and Carole was such a fun loving woman. She was such a great sport!! So glad you got to celebrate her this summer!! Your special memories will sustain you in the days to come. Kelly & Reid
Sad to hear about Carole. I was Carole’s boss at Pittsburgh Paint and Glass; during her time here she was respected by our customers and co-workers.
With deepest sympathy to the family. George Holub
We are sad to hear of Carole’s passing and hope you find comfort in spending time with family and friends.
I would like to think she and Mom are singing together again.
Saddened to loose a dear friend.condolences to her family
My sincere condolences to Carole’s family!
Our deepest sympathies extended to all the Maguire family. I have many memories of Carole, she was such a warm friendly person and a natural teacher as well. Thinking of you all at this sad time.
Sincere condolences to the Maguire family. Thinking of you all with the loss of you’re mom .
I was so sorry to hear of Caroles passing. Thanks so much for keeping me posted. She was a good friend. I will always remember with a smile her talent for putting words together for a song about any occasion, and the fun we had rehearsing (?) She will be sadly missed.
very sad news to hear of Caroles passing . My condolences to all her family. She was a very talented musician. The good times you must have had in your family band! I will always remember with a smile what good times we had rehearsing
the songs she prepared to fit a familiar tune for any special occasion at Palm to ,PalmShe will be sadly missed
So very saddened to learn of the passing of Carole. We attended Grade 1 together, in Waskada, back in 1941 and remained good friends, through our school years, keeping in touch ever since. Having moved away from Manitoba in the 1950s, it was so nice to spend time together with she, Gordon, Elsie, Bill and Fran, in Texas during the 1990s and early 2000s. Our families shared many wonderful times and memories. Carole will be missed and her memory ever close.
My condolences to the family. Carole was a great and accomplished lady with a remarkable sense of humour. She will be missed.