Obituary for Margaret Jean Jelley (Coates)
On June 8th, 2022, at 97 years of age, Margaret Jelley (Coates) passed peacefully at
Southlake Village Longterm Care Home. Daughter of the late Dr. Warren Coates and Edna
(Ronson), sister of the late Donald Coates, devoted wife of 69 years to the late Murray Jelley,
loving mother of Peter (Heather) and proud Gran of Mathew and Paul (Anna).
Margaret Jean Jelley was born October 10th, 1924 in Thamesville, Ontario. At an early age her
family moved to Bradford where her father practiced dentistry. Shortly after graduating from
Bradford High School with High Honours, she and her mother moved to Newmarket after her
father’s early passing. She worked for the Bank of Toronto later the Toronto Dominion Bank on
Main Street in Newmarket. She left the bank in the late 1950’s and applied her mathematical
talents balancing the books for Grandpa Jelley and Murray’s plumbing and heating business
until Dad’s retirement.
Mom played hockey while growing up in Bradford and loved to skate. She enjoyed alpine
skiing and even tackled Whistler Mountain. Mom was a good golfer. She did not hit the ball
far, but always down the middle of the fairway. She studied piano at the Royal Conservatory of
Music at the University of Toronto and passed her grade eight and nine exams with high
honours. Along with the piano, Mom was an accomplished organist. She would have been a
great music teacher. A visit to Gran and Grandad’s house was never complete without her
playing “Parade of the Wooden Soldiers” on the organ and her Grandson’s marching to the
music.
In the 1950’s, Mom and Dad sang in a Barbershop Quartet called The Novachords, well before
women were permitted to belong to the Barbershop Society. She had a wonderful voice and
her piano talents were used to help the quartet learn their parts.
Mom was active in her community with a variety of organizations. She volunteered for the York
County Hospital Woman’s Auxiliary, was a Girl Guide Leader, canvassed for the Arthritis and
Cancer Societies and assisted with Sunday School.
Mom had a special attribute and that was helping others who needed to be helped. She would
send money to those in the community that needed a financial boost to go to camp, attend a
school, help out with a new community program being developed. She did this not wanting
accolades or recognition simply feeling grateful she was able to help others who were in need,
many whom she had never met.
Those who knew her well and those in her later years who provided care for Mom, will fondly
remember her quick wit, feisty personality and her threat of “The Big Stick”. She had a sense of
humour that would keep everyone on their toes. She always remembered birthdays,
anniversaries and other special occasions and sent cards with “treats” enclosed, phoned those
who she had not heard from for a while to see how they were keeping, tossed in the extra
candies at Hallowe’en for the neighbourhood children and made sure she had small gifts of
appreciation for the mail, paper delivery and refuse workers at Christmas.
In lieu of flowers, our family requests donations to Inn From The Cold or the Arthritis Society.
Mom always had a song in her heart and her life was a wonderful symphony. The symphony
has ended.
As per Mom’s wishes, there will be no visitation or funeral. There will be a private service with
the immediate family.
Southlake Village Longterm Care Home. Daughter of the late Dr. Warren Coates and Edna
(Ronson), sister of the late Donald Coates, devoted wife of 69 years to the late Murray Jelley,
loving mother of Peter (Heather) and proud Gran of Mathew and Paul (Anna).
Margaret Jean Jelley was born October 10th, 1924 in Thamesville, Ontario. At an early age her
family moved to Bradford where her father practiced dentistry. Shortly after graduating from
Bradford High School with High Honours, she and her mother moved to Newmarket after her
father’s early passing. She worked for the Bank of Toronto later the Toronto Dominion Bank on
Main Street in Newmarket. She left the bank in the late 1950’s and applied her mathematical
talents balancing the books for Grandpa Jelley and Murray’s plumbing and heating business
until Dad’s retirement.
Mom played hockey while growing up in Bradford and loved to skate. She enjoyed alpine
skiing and even tackled Whistler Mountain. Mom was a good golfer. She did not hit the ball
far, but always down the middle of the fairway. She studied piano at the Royal Conservatory of
Music at the University of Toronto and passed her grade eight and nine exams with high
honours. Along with the piano, Mom was an accomplished organist. She would have been a
great music teacher. A visit to Gran and Grandad’s house was never complete without her
playing “Parade of the Wooden Soldiers” on the organ and her Grandson’s marching to the
music.
In the 1950’s, Mom and Dad sang in a Barbershop Quartet called The Novachords, well before
women were permitted to belong to the Barbershop Society. She had a wonderful voice and
her piano talents were used to help the quartet learn their parts.
Mom was active in her community with a variety of organizations. She volunteered for the York
County Hospital Woman’s Auxiliary, was a Girl Guide Leader, canvassed for the Arthritis and
Cancer Societies and assisted with Sunday School.
Mom had a special attribute and that was helping others who needed to be helped. She would
send money to those in the community that needed a financial boost to go to camp, attend a
school, help out with a new community program being developed. She did this not wanting
accolades or recognition simply feeling grateful she was able to help others who were in need,
many whom she had never met.
Those who knew her well and those in her later years who provided care for Mom, will fondly
remember her quick wit, feisty personality and her threat of “The Big Stick”. She had a sense of
humour that would keep everyone on their toes. She always remembered birthdays,
anniversaries and other special occasions and sent cards with “treats” enclosed, phoned those
who she had not heard from for a while to see how they were keeping, tossed in the extra
candies at Hallowe’en for the neighbourhood children and made sure she had small gifts of
appreciation for the mail, paper delivery and refuse workers at Christmas.
In lieu of flowers, our family requests donations to Inn From The Cold or the Arthritis Society.
Mom always had a song in her heart and her life was a wonderful symphony. The symphony
has ended.
As per Mom’s wishes, there will be no visitation or funeral. There will be a private service with
the immediate family.