Irene Margaret Tait

Irene Margaret Tait (née Anderson) October 20, 1934 - November 12, 2025. Predeceased by her parents Catherine (1979) and Edward (1979), and her husband Tom (2014), she is survived by brothers Martin and Philip, children Catherine (Nina) and Douglas, grandsons David and Ben, and extended family in Canada, Germany, South Africa and the UK.
Irene was born and grew up in Glasgow, Scotland where she attended Netherlee Primary, Eastwood Secondary, The University of Glasgow and Jordanhill College. She taught in the Glasgow area for two years before moving to Vancouver in 1959, intending to spend a couple of years teaching in Canada before returning home. In the summer of 1961 she and a friend travelled east and ended up in Montreal...once again to spend a couple of years “seeing the world”. When she walked into her first choir practice (as an amateur but attractive alto) at St Andrews Westmount that fall, she had no way of knowing that a certain baritone in the back row decided on the spot that he had ‘just seen the next Mrs Tait'.
Irene was a dedicated teacher, loved and respected by her students and colleagues alike. When she took a break from teaching to start a family, she taught piano and theory, accompanied many choirs/singers/instrumentalists, and most significantly for her, was rehearsal accompanist for the Montreal West Operatic Society. Re-entering the workforce in 1973 took her to Wagar High School, where she taught History, English and Ethics. Her years at Wagar were undoubtedly the highlight of her teaching career; she delighted in the quick paced, intellectually stimulating atmosphere and extremely collegial staff, many of whom remained life long friends.
On moving to Toronto in 1979, she switched gears, back to primary and middle school Music and French, and ended her career with the Peel District School Board, retiring in 1995. A few highlights of her extracurricular endeavours included sewing costumes for St Laurent High G&S productions, coaching the Wagar “Reach for the Top” team, chaperoning Grade 8 trips to Quebec City, supervising the ‘Club de Tricotage’ and preparing myriad choirs and soloists for competitions.
Throughout their marriage, but especially in retirement, she and Tom took several enjoyable trips in Canada, the US and Europe. They relocated to Cobourg, ON in 2001 where they made many new friends and actively took part in church and community groups. We are extremely grateful for the exceptional care Irene and Tom received over many years at Northumberland Hills Hospital and are especially grateful for the gentle kindness shown to Irene in the final week of her life.
At Irene’s request, there will not be a funeral; however, a memorial donation in her honour, to Northumberland Hills Hospital, would be appreciated.