Obituary of Charlotte Kathleen Majic

Charlotte Kathleen Schumacher Majic passed away peacefully, on her own terms, in the Palliative Care Unit at the Northumberland Hills Health Center. She is survived by her husband of 52 years, Samuel, her three children, Samantha (John Rasmussen), Charles (Kathrin), and Elizabeth (Peter Repetto), and her beloved grandchildren, Anna and Samuel.

Charlotte was born in Halliday, North Dakota, on February 22, 1948, and was the ninth of twelve siblings. Raised on a cattle and dairy farm, Charlotte developed a resolute work ethic that would take her to the University of North Dakota, where she met Sam (of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario) and completed her degree in education.

After they married, Charlotte and Sam settled in Port Hope, Ontario, where Charlotte developed her career, a wide network of friends, and a range of social and political commitments. She was a maverick who was always ahead of the curve: a La Leche League leader, she promoted breastfeeding before it was in the mainstream, and she found and fed her family organic food before it was trendy (to name just two examples!).

Charlotte was passionate about learning and education. She developed a distinguished career, first as a high school teacher, and then as principal. Throughout her working life, she was always on the cutting edge. Strongly committed to promoting literacy, especially for under-privileged students, she pioneered reading programs and one of the first alternative-cooperative education programs in the province, earning a Masters Degree in Education from the University of Toronto along the way.

Friends and family will remember Charlotte for her enthusiasm and engagement with numerous social and political causes. She was a devoted member of Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation (and later, the Retired Teachers of Ontario), knocked on 3000 doors for the Liberal Party in the 2022 provincial election, and remained an active member of Democrats Abroad. And she loved her various groups—the Canadian Association of University Women, her book club, and her political discussion group—where she could talk (and argue!) about current events.

Always in pursuit of knowledge, Charlotte traveled extensively throughout the globe with Sam in their retirement. Forever a North Dakota farm girl, she loved working in her beautiful gardens and fixing and renovating her house. And we will always remember her as an avid thrift shopper and a brilliant seamstress who hated to cook but loved to go out for a good coffee and a perfectly crafted pastry. In her memory, we ask you to— as Charlotte always told her children—be good, kind, generous, and smart.

There will not be a wake or funeral, as Charlotte wished.

The family is profoundly grateful to the team in the palliative care unit who supported Charlotte and her family and made her transition so peaceful: Dr. Essak and Dr. Rys, nurses Karen and Shirley, personal support workers Mark and Claudette, and Riley from social work.