Margaret Elizabeth Beattie Burden

Obituary from the Toronto Daily Star (Toronto, York County, Ontario, Canada) on Tuesday, September 9, 1952, page 5, columns 1 through 4:

LINK WITH EARLY TORONTO MRS. C. E. BURDEN, 84, DIES

A link with Toronto's storied past was broken today with the passing of Mrs. Charles Elbridge (Margaret) Burden, 84, of Avenue Rd. and Oakville, last surviving child of Timothy Eaton, founder of the world-famous firm.

Last Nov. 30, Mr. and Mrs. Burden celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary. Theirs was a romance which began with a meeting in Sunday school class at the old Elm Street Methodist church and continued all through the years. Mr. Burden was president of the E. Harris Co. until his retirement more than a quarter of a century ago.

One of Mrs. Burden's major interests was the IODE, of which she held many high offices, serving as chapter, municipal, and national regent for many years, and as national president from 1933 to 1938.

Mrs. Burden, whose greatest joy was the family gatherings, with 14 or 16 persons sitting down to dinner together, often made quiet observations on life, such as to advise young women never to object to their role as homemaker and that woman's place in the kitchen was a prouder role than a seat at the bridge table. She would tell young women she could well remember, and always with pride, her early married days, when, unable to afford a maid, she did her own housework.

Born in St. Marys

Born in St. Marys on Dec. 6, 1867, one of eight children of Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Eaton, Mrs. Burden was brought to Toronto when two years old. In later years she remembered the small store opened by her Irish immigrant father and its removal farther up Yonge St., then its return and development at Queen St. and Yonge St.

At 23, she married Mr. Burden, who was by then well established in the Edwin Harris Paints and Oils Company. Theirs was the first wedding to take place in Trinity Methodist church, now Trinity United. A reception was held at the home of Mrs. Burden's sister, Mrs. T. D. M. Burnside, Lowther Ave., which later became IODE headquarters.

Was Charming Hostess

After considerable moving around, the couple finally settled in their gracious, flower-filled house on Avenue Rd., nearly 40 years ago. There Mrs. Burden was a charming hostess through the years. A second home, for summer and weekends, was Raymar, their 15-acre estate at Oakville, where the couple indulged their favorite hobby, horticulture, in the conservatories and spacious gardens.

Mrs. Burden joined the IODE in the Chamberlain chapter about 1913. She served as regent for eight years and was a life member of the chapter. From 1933 to 1938, she was national president. She also served as a national and provincial vice-president and was regent of Municipal chapter of Toronto for 14 years. She was on the national executive committee until 1949, and on the provincial executive committee since its inception in 1920 until 1936. She was a life member of the national provincial and municipal chapters.

Received Three Medals

For her various activities, she received the King George V medal, the Navy League medal, and the George VI Coronation medal.

Mrs. Burden was also actively interested in the Women's Patriotic league since its founding in World War I.

In her later years, Mrs. Burden kept up her interest in current events and in the things around her. She was a constant reader and did much fine sewing, including the dressing of dolls for the bazaar of her IODE chapter.

An aunt of John David Eaton, now president of T. Eaton Co., Mrs. Burden was the mother of two sons and two daughters. Both sons served with distinction during World War II. Henry John Burden and Eaton Burden held respective ranks of group captain and wing commander in the RCAF. One daughter is Mrs. W. A. Bishop, of Montreal, wife of Air Marshal (Billy) Bishop, V.C. Mrs. Greta Burden Smith, another daughter, lives in Toronto.

Also surviving, besides Mr. Burden, are 10 grandchildren and one great grandchild, Michael Willis O'Connor, of Ottawa.

Obituary from the Toronto Daily Star (Toronto, York County, Ontario, Canada) on Tuesday, September 9, 1952, page 30, column 5:

BURDEN, Margaret Beattie - On Tuesday, Sep. 9, 1932, at her residence, 494 Avenue Rd., Margaret Beattie Eaton, beloved wife of Charles Eldridge Burden. Funeral private.

Obituary from the Globe and Mail (Toronto, York County, Ontario, Canada) on Wednesday, September 10, 1952, page 4:

Mrs. Charles E. Burden Received Medals From Two Kings For IODE Work

Last surviving child of the late Timothy Eaton, founder of the T. Eaton Co., Margaret Eaton Burden died yesterday at her Toronto residence. She was the wife of Charles E. Burden. For nearly 40 years she had resided at their Avenue Rd. home.

Prominent in public service and organizations, Mrs. Burden was outstanding in the work of the IODE. She was a past president of the National Chapter of Canada and served for 14 years as regent of the Municipal Chapter of Toronto. She first became associated with the IODE about 1913, when she joined the Chamberlain Chapter and for eight years held the office of regent. She had served as national provincial vice-president and was a member of the national executive committee until 1949. She was a member of the provincial executive committee from its inception in 1920 until 1930. She was a life member of Chamberlain Chapter, the National Chapter, Provincial Chapter and Municipal Chapter.

Many honors had been conferred on her and she had received the King George V medal, the Navy League Medal and the George VI Coronation Medal.

Born 84 years ago in St. Marys, Mrs. Burden was one of eight children and at the age of two came to Toronto with her parents. She received her education at the Model School and Ladies' College, Hamilton. Mrs. Burden and her husband were the first couple to be married in Trinity Methodist Church, now United Church.

On Dec. 2, 1950, Mr. and Mrs. Burden celebrated the diamond jubilee anniversary of their wedding.

Mrs. Burden had been keenly interested in the Women's Patriotic League since its organization during the First World War. She was a member of the board of the IODE headquarters on Lowther Ave., which was a gift to the order from her sister. She was a member of Windermere Golf Club (Muskoka), York Downs Golf and Country Club and the United Church.

She leaves her husband; two sons, Henry John and Eaton Burden; two daughters, Mrs. Gretta Burden Smith, Toronto, and Mrs. W. A. Bishop, Montreal, nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Obituary from the Globe and Mail (Toronto, York County, Ontario, Canada) on Wednesday, September 10, 1952, page 21:

BURDEN, Margaret Beattie - On Tuesday, Sep. 9, 1932, at her residence, 494 Avenue Rd., Margaret Beattie Eaton, beloved wife of Charles Eldridge Burden. Funeral private.