Born in
Chaffeys Locks, Ontario, Agnes McCausland Richardson was the daughter of the former Queen's Chancellor
James Armstrong Richardson Sr., who served from 1929 to 1939. She was named after her aunt
Agnes McCausland Richardson Etherington (1880–1954). She was raised in
Winnipeg, and received her B.A. degree from Queen's in 1941, and an
LL.D. degree in 1979. She is the sister of the Honourable
James A. Richardson Jr., who was a
Trudeau-era
Liberal member of the Canadian Parliament and cabinet minister. In 1947, she married
William Moore Benidickson (1911–1985), who was a Liberal MP and later became a Cabinet minister and
Senator. She was made an Officer of the
Order of Canada in 1987, and promoted to a Companion in 1998. In 1987, she received an honorary Doctors of Law degree from the
University of British Columbia. In 1991, she was awarded the
Order of Ontario. She died on March 23, 2007, at her home in Ottawa. From her obituary: Agnes lived a life enriched by her family, her travels, her experiences and above all by her service to community and country through a host of organizations which she founded, helped to lead and sustain through her tireless volunteer efforts. Her life and her example will continue to be celebrated by her children, Jamie, Kris and Kathleen, their partners Melanie Mallet, Shirley Benidickson, and Alex Ramsay, daughter-in-law Victoria Young-Benidickson, granddaughters Nicola Benidickson, Kirsten Benidickson, Martha and Leigh Ramsay, her extended family, and all who were touched by the commitment, insight, grace and generosity which were the hallmarks of her life. ==References==