Margaret stands in front of a Robert Ross painting entitled The Front Lawn, in the lobby of Margaret’s Place.
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DUNDAS, ONTARIO – St. Joseph’s Villa & Foundation is saddened by the passing of Hamilton philanthropist and dear friend Margaret Juravinski on May 9th. Predeceased by her husband Charles, Margaret leaves behind a legacy that has impacted so many in the Hamilton community, including those at St. Joseph’s Villa and Margaret’s Place Hospice. Together, Margaret and Charles made it their mission to give back to their community, and did so by supporting a universal need: health care. “We are feeling a profound sense of loss at the passing of our dear friend Margaret” says Don Davidson, President and CEO, St. Joseph’s Villa Foundation. “Margaret’s relationship with St. Joseph’s Villa had a strong bond, having entrusted her mother to our care in the 1990’s. That was the start of a friendship that spanned three decades. You didn’t often hear Margaret speaking in a public setting as she left that to Charles, but make no mistake, Margaret was a strong voice in the background, playing an equal role in all of their decisions. Her love for the Villa was evident.”
Margaret and Charles have stood with the Villa through every major project over the past 25 years, lending their support to advance the quality of senior care in our community. Families are being served and the impact is enormous due to wonderful philanthropic partners like the Juravinskis.
John Woods, President of St. Joseph’s Villa says “We were saddened to hear of the passing of Margaret Juravinski. Margaret wanted to make people’s lives better. She cared about our residents and clients, and she was a cheerleader for our staff and volunteers. Together with her late husband Charlie, she helped us expand our services so that thousands more people can get the care that they need. Most recently she helped us build our hospice, Margaret’s Place, which was named after her. Margaret was our friend who we will never forget.”
Margaret’s Place opened in September 2021 with Margaret cutting the grand opening ribbon. Being one who never wanted the spotlight, she said at the time, “Margaret’s Place, while named in honour of me, can really be any Margaret. This is a hospice that will serve anyone who needs the care it will provide.”
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History of Juravinski’s support of St. Joseph’s Villa
The Juravinski’s support and friendship of St. Joseph’s Villa dates back over 25 years to when they first encountered the Villa’s compassionate care as Margaret’s mother was a resident. In appreciation for the care Margaret’s mother received in her 10 years at St. Joseph’s Villa, Charlie and Margaret supported the Villa’s major redevelopment in 2002 with a $5-million gift.
“The $5-million gift was the largest gift ever made to a long-term care facility in Ontario at the time,” says Maureen Ellis, former President & CEO of St. Joseph’s Villa Foundation at the time of the gift. “It was an example of true leadership and just the start of their many years of adamant support for the Villa.”
In 2016, the idea of hospice at St. Joseph’s Villa was brought to Charles and Margaret. Their excitement was apparent, as only weeks earlier the couple had a conversation about the need for a hospice in the west end of Hamilton. The couple contributed over $2 million to hospice care on the campus of St. Joseph’s Villa, and it was named in honour of Margaret: Margaret’s Place, Hospice at St. Joseph’s Villa. Nearly four years later, the Juravinskis saw their generosity come full circle as it cared for Charles in the final days of his life.
Apart from their giving, Margaret loved being on-site at the Villa, interacting with residents and seeing exactly how her support was making a difference in lives. She attended almost every fundraising event and loved interacting with the Villa’s many supportive community members. Margaret was the Grand Marshal of the Villa Foundation’s inaugural Hike the Valley fundraising event at the Dundas Valley Golf and Curling Club in June 2022. She was hiking in memory of her late husband Charles. In November 2022, she attended her last Villa event, Holiday Handbags with the event raising the largest net revenue of any event in Villa history. From all of us associated with St. Joseph’s Villa and Margaret’s Place Hospice, we simply say to Margaret, Thank you.
MEDIA CONTACT
Don Davidson
President & CEO
St. Joseph’s Villa Foundation
905-627-9011 Ext 2293 d_davidson@sjv.on.ca