Harriet Edna Parker
Posted Sep 5, 2023 | 10:26 AM
JULY 25, 1932 – AUGUST 30, 2023
She Never Stopped Being Young. When Harriet was born in 1932, she was the 5th generation of the Douglas family living in Owen Sound. Her Great-Great Grandmother came to what would become Owen Sound in 1842. Like most children born in the 30’s she watched her father William Art Parker go off to fight in World War 2. He joined the Navy and sailed aboard Corvette Class Ships escorting convoys in the North Atlantic. When he returned home at the end of the war Harriet was 13 and living an adventurous life growing up on 9th St. E. across from the OSCVI.
Her life was filled with music. Her father played drums while her Uncle Harry Parker was on fiddle. The Parker family was full of fun, music, and food out Brooke while her mother’s side was a more proper Scottish family on the East side. One day she sat on her porch and looked in the window to see Louie Armstrong and his band enjoying the lunch her mother was making for them.
She married George Watson and raised five children Joe Watson (Yvonne), Kim Teeter (Harvey), Patrick Watson (Sheila), Pam Warmington (Gord) and Susan Watson (Jeff). Eventually becoming a second mother to Donny, Peter, David, Jamie, and Mary-Ann Tyliszczak when she married Roman Tyliszczak. With Roman she personally met Roman’s childhood friend Pope John Paul 2 in Toronto on his 1st visit to Toronto.
Harriet has had an exciting life whether travelling behind the Iron Curtain to Communist Poland or cruising the Caribbean. Harriet sailed on 2 crossings of the Atlantic Ocean to Europe and Africa, the best trips of her life. She always loved to travel and experience different cultures.
At the young age of 60 she decided to move to Antigua in the West Indies in the 1990’s where she met and worked with Prime Ministers and Government agencies promoting Antiqua and Barbuda and even owning a restaurant overlooking historical English Harbour. She once had Eric Clapton’s old beer fridge in her kitchen keeping things cold. But that’s a long story.
Coming back to Owen Sound she never stopped to rest. Spending time with her family as it grew with more and more kids. Cats, painting, and knitting were her favourite hobbies. She settled down with a companion Syl MacIntosh who was a seasoned musician, and they enjoyed the music scene around the area. Sauble Beach was her second home. Camping as a 10 year old in a deserted south end of the beach with her Mother and brother during WW2 and walking to Main Street everyday to see if there was a letter from their father. Building a wonderful cottage next to the Pavilion Dance Hall where our family spent the best years of our life to later living in a home behind the Driftwood Restaurant driving into Owen Sound to work everyday. Mom was always up for a drive to the Beach.
Cherished Grandmother of Mellisa Pichette (Charles), Jenny Graham (John), Sarah Smith (Matt), Parker Bell, Michael Atwell (Laura), Jodi Carson, Scott Watson, Jada Skippin (Oshawn) and Brooke Doman (Ty). Great Grandmother to Makaya MacDonald, Sylvia Smith, Hunter Pichette, Elliot Smith, Noah Skippin, Charlie Graham, Athena Atwell, and Waylon Skippin. Dear Sister of Gordon Douglas Parker (Helen).
Predeceased by her parents Willian “Art” & Helen Parker. She will be greatly missed by her lifelong friend Sylvia Moss.
Her family would like to thank the staff at SOUTHBRIDGE LTC for all the loving care and attention Harriet received in her last 6 months.
A Celebration of Harriet’s life will be held at Brian E. Wood Funeral Home, 250 14th St. W., Owen Sound, 519-376-7492, on Sunday September 24th, 1:00 pm with David Moss-Cornett officiating. Reception to follow. For friends unable to attend in person, a recorded version will be posted online. Interment will take place at Greenwood Cemetery.
As an expression of sympathy, memorial donations can be made to H.C.S.S. Grey Bruce who were a great friend to Harriet in her later years would be appreciated. Online condolences can be sent to Harriet’s family by visiting her memorial at www.woodfuneral home.ca
- First Name : Harriet
- Last Name : Parker
- Funeral Home : Brian E Wood Funeral Home, Owen Sound
- URL : https://www.woodfuneralhome.ca/obituaries/Harriet-Edna-Parker?obId=28888166
