It is with heavy hearts that we announce the sudden passing of our beloved mother and grandmother. Margaret passed from this earth on September 26, 2021, in her home at the age of 69 years. Margaret was predeceased by her husband Sid, daughter Katherine, and parents. Beloved by family and friends, she is survived by children Kimberly and Johnathan; grandchildren, Jamila, Bailey, Caleb, and Luke; and siblings, Allan, David, and Ken.

 

Margaret was born in Montreal, Quebec, growing up on the northwest corner of the island in Pierrefonds. She was raised in a family of five children, with an older brother, Allan, and three younger siblings, David, Ken, and Cyndi. Many foster children were present in Margaret’s home. She loved children and spent many hours caring for infants, toddlers, young children, and her younger siblings through her childhood and teenage years. She loved living in Montreal, with many fond memories of skiing in the mountains, spending time outside, participating in her church’s youth group, and spending time with her extended family. Although she was quiet, she had a great sense of humour. She, like her father, was well known for being a quiet instigator, who would cheekily survey the turmoil she had created, watching her handiwork in the background.

 

She began her work life in the Men’s Department of Simpson’s in Montreal after graduating from high school. Soon after, she took a position with Nordair as a scheduling clerk and flight attendant. She would go on to spend ten years working for Nordair and Pacific Western Airlines in Montreal and the Northwest Territories. It was through this experience that she caught the travel bug, which gave her a unique opportunity to inexpensively travel through much of North America, Europe, and the Caribbean with friends and co-workers.

 

Margaret first met Sid while serving as Maid of Honour for her friend’s wedding in Montreal. Sid served as Best Man. It was at this wedding that sparks would first fly; however, these were sparks of anger. Yet Sid’s extroverted, charming and persistent personality would eventually sweep Margaret off her feet. After a six-month whirlwind romance, they married in Cambridge Bay, Northwest Territories on November 8, 1975. They would be married for nearly 44 years, until the time of Sid’s death.

 

Margaret and Sid lived in Cambridge Bay for the first ten years of their marriage. They loved living in the Arctic, spending much time travelling around the world and entertaining friends and family. They would often spend entire summer nights outside travelling across the Arctic tundra during periods of twenty-four hour daylight. During winter months, Margaret was well known for hosting memorable dinner parties in the community. When their children were ready to begin school, Margaret and Sid moved to Winnipeg. Margaret spent the children’s early years as a homemaker, supplementing the family’s income as a seamstress and babysitter. In 1992, Margaret began working at Springs Christian Academy where she would work first as an Educational Assistant and then as a Librarian for the next 27 years. She worked with and read to children of all ages, but her passion was connecting with high school students. She worked to create a library that served as a safe space for students. Margaret’s dry sense of humour, practical and no-nonsense approach drew students into the library, filling the room each day. She would frequently serve as a listening ear and confidant to many troubled, disconnected, and despondent teens.

 

Together Margaret and Sid raised one daughter, Kimberly, and one son, Johnathan. They also fostered a young boy named John in their early years of marriage. Margaret believed that she was called to be a mother. Though she encountered much hardship beginning her family, she cherished every moment of motherhood. Her children meant the world to her; she loved and willingly sacrificed for them, spending as much time as she could with them. She spent many days reading to them, cooking, baking, creating, crafting, and exploring with her kids. She taught her children the love of God, and lived out her deep faith through her involvement in children’s ministries at her church. Her family would actively serve alongside her weekly in a Boys & Girls Club. Even as adults, Margaret loved spending time with her children through ongoing conversations, time out together, and family dinners. In her later years, she loved spending time with her four grandchildren. She looked forward to every moment she could spend with them. She loved sharing and bragging about her grandchildren to anyone who would listen. There was no doubt about the love and pride that Margaret had for her family.

 

Margaret was an avid reader. She would spend hours with her head in a book, adventuring and exploring vicariously through the lives of many different characters. She loved creating and crafting through fabric and yarn, paper, and water colour mediums. She was an accomplished seamstress, creating her own and her children’s clothing, including her daughter’s wedding gown. Margaret was an amazing cook. She was well known and respected in Cambridge Bay for her eventful dinner parties. Her friends and family loved her cooking and baking. Margaret loved all creatures great and small. Many four-legged friends and fish were welcomed into her home and workplace. Her dogs and cats were a constant source of companionship and friendship. She also loved classic movies, all things salty, and spending time together with her close friends and family. Margaret was a follower of Christ and had a deep faith in Him through her life. Though she faced many trials, she trusted and rested in the Good Shepherd’s care.

 

Margaret spent many years volunteering through several children’s programs over her lifetime. She taught Sunday School as a teenager and then again for eight years in Winnipeg when her children were young. She served as a Brownie leader with Girl Guides of Canada for seven years. She also served as a Leader, Secretary, and Administrator for her church’s weekly Boys & Girls Club program. She was the organized planner, lobbying for a theme for each event she helped to plan. She would meet several close and lifelong friends through these activities. Margaret enjoyed ministering alongside her friends and family.

 

Margaret looked forward to her retirement. She spent these days reading, connecting with her close friends, spending time with family, babysitting her grandchildren, and keeping herself active as a dog sitter and dog walker. Margaret was a loving, selfless, genuine woman, who was always willing to listen to and serve the needs of others. She was a peace maker who always had so much to give of herself. Margaret’s family will deeply miss her, but will treasure her impact in their lives, and all of the memories they created together. They are comforted knowing that she is resting in the safe and capable hands of her Heavenly Father. She will not be forgotten.

 

A memorial service to celebrate Margaret’s life will be taking place with close friends and family, to comply with current health orders. A video of the memorial service will be made available on YouTube by October 26, 2021 at the following address: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqueZswcXM1E4gth5jP0GwA, for those that would like to watch the service. In lieu of flowers the family would request that donations be made to the Winnipeg Humane Society.