KARENN (HEATHER VEITCH), MORGHYNN Passed away on Friday, December 28, 2018, at the age of 70, at the South Muskoka Memorial Hospital in Bracebridge. Survived by her beloved dog Toughie, her children Taylore and Raquel, her brother Allan and sister Helen. Morghynn was predeceased by her parents, Calvin and Muriel Veitch.
Born in Bracebridge in 1948, Morghynn attended primary school in Glasgow, Scotland and Port Carling, Ontario, and she graduated from the Bracebridge and Muskoka Lakes Secondary School in 1965. Morghynn went on to achieve her Bachelor of Arts from York University in 1977, after attending York as a part-time student for five years while raising her daughters. Morghynn then earned her Bachelor of Laws degree from Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto and worked as a Student-at-Law in Toronto, gaining wide-ranging articling experience, with an emphasis on criminal, family and immigration law. In 1982, after completion of the Bar Admission Course at Osgoode Hall, Morghynn began her law career in Hamilton in 1983 at a community clinic dedicated to supporting the less fortunate.
Firmly believing that the arts are “balm for the soul”, Morghynn’s lifelong commitment to community and helping others also led her to share her passion for theatre and dance with children and adults alike. She enjoyed a rich life in amateur theatre with friends from all walks of life, and without fail dedicated her weekends for more than thirty years to teaching jazz, tap and ballet. She spent twenty of those years as an instructor at University Settlement in Toronto, an organization devoted to helping individuals and families to learn and grow by engaging them in social, cultural, recreational and educational opportunities. As a proud member of her Settlement family, Morghynn developed special bonds with both her students and their parents, with several of her students going on to further higher-level training, including some achieving auditions with the National Ballet of Canada and others appearing in television shows and commercials.
Morghynn’s deep spirit, strong will, and commitment to help the less privileged – despite the sacrifices that it sometimes entailed – added depth and richness to the many personal bonds she formed throughout her life. Having faced her own serious challenges throughout her life, her personal understanding of how harsh the world can be propelled her commitment to helping others. She will be dearly missed by all those whose lives she touched through her compassion, friendship, legal help, and spiritual support.
As per Morghynn’s wishes, there will be no funeral, and cremation has taken place. A Celebration of Life will take place in Muskoka in Spring, 2019.
Condolences, memories and photographs may be forwarded through www.reynoldsfuneral.com.
In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Morghynn to the University Settlement school can be given in person, online http://universitysettlement.ca/how-to-give or by mail: University Settlement c/o Finance Department 23 Grange Road, Toronto M5T 1C3 or to the charity of one’s choice would be appreciated.