A pioneering Coquitlam businessperson known for a feisty spirit died peacefully in her sleep Sunday. Mary Ann Meegan was 86.
Meegan was the first woman in B.C. to be licensed as an insurance agent, starting in the profession on the recommendation of a paymaster at the sawmill she and her husband, Jimmy, worked at in Ocean Falls, B.C.
The family of six moved to Coquitlam in 1972, with Jimmy Meegan employed at the Fraser Mills sawmill. A year later, she opened Mary Ann Meegan Insurance at 1060 Austin Ave.
Born on Sept. 12, 1928, in County Louth, Ireland, Meegan was the youngest of nine children and was raised by an older sister after their parents died.
She was passionate in life, a community leader and church volunteer. But her battles with city hall were legendary, often taking council and staff to task on municipal policies.
After her office was destroyed by fire in 2013 and the business was forced to move across the street, she publicly wagged her finger at Mayor Richard Stewart and chastised city staff about the way she had been treated. She pleaded for help following the stress and financial hardship to rebuild.
Linda Pashka, the partner of son Peter Meegan, told The Tri-City News Tuesday Meegan was pleased to be present at the grand reopening of her new three-storey building in February.
"As usual, she was surrounded by family and friends," Pashka said.
Three months later, however, tragedy struck again with the death of her daughter, Brigid, from cancer. Soon after, doctors at The Madison care home, where she was living, told Meegan she could no longer walk, Pashka said.
Meegan is survived by two children, nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. A date for a memorial service has yet to be determined.
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