I am so sorry to hear of Margaret’s passing, she and I became true and steady friends when she bought her Sam from me years ago. We always kept in touch until she was last told that her cancer had returned, then she called me to tell me that she had given up Sam to Al and Joyce. She wanted me to know that he was being well taken care of. I know she had a lot of love and comfort from her Sam.

Margaret and I met in early 2007. I have learned so much from Margaret. She was a very intelligent woman, and was very much up to date with current events, and she did challenge me to keep up with them as well. She and I had countless late into the night discussions about marriage, life, hope, peace, love, current events, Faith, God, Jesus, friends. I always enjoyed hearing Margaret talking with her Boy and Sam.. she truly loved her fur kids. I miss Margaret’s wonderful laugh, her fantastic life stories, her optimism and loving words. I was also able to hear a little of her scottish temper a time or two.. I didn’t mind. Margaret I love you and miss you so very much. You are truly loved and truly missed.. and I couldnt end this any better than as Lori put it.. Bye Bye, God Bless, Love You !

Whenever I think of Margaret, I automatically think of the phrase, “To Know her is to love her”, for none could resist the considerable charms of this wee little Scottish Firecracker. There are so many things I am going to miss about Margaret: her mischievous sense of humour, her keen intelligence (she was always schooling me on current events and world politics), her unwavering sense of hope and optimism. But most of all, I will miss her kind and giving heart….. a heart so big one wonders how it could possibly fit in that tiny little body.

In the days since Margaret’s passing I have come to learn a lot of her long and colourful life. She has had a very difficult journey, filled with more tragedies and tribulations than any one person should have to bear. A lesser person would have been bitter, beaten down, defeated, but not our Margaret. Instead Margaret rose to meet these challenges by being more hopeful, more determined, and more kind and generous of heart, she would give you the shirt off her back even if it was the last thing she owned. This is the testament to what a truly special and remarkable person Margaret was and will continue to be in our hearts. Margaret taught me it is truly better to give than receive, to hope rather than to despair and I will strive everyday to live up to her outstanding example.

I was honoured to be with Margaret during the last few days of her earthly life. Initially Margaret was reluctant to leave Foothills hospital and the exceptional staff who, through their dedicated care and compassion, Margaret counted among her most cherished friends. She was always so incredulous that her well-being mattered so much to people who had initially been total strangers. I know that she was very happy to have found a home and a loving family at Sarcee hospice. I will be forever grateful to the incredible staff for treating Margaret with the dignity and respect she so richly deserved. Their kindness made our sorrow a little easier to bear.

I want you to know that Margaret never gave up hoping, believing and fighting for her life. In the end it was her body that failed her but I am comforted knowing she is in a better place, free from pain. So Margaret I bid you a very fond ByeBye, God Bless, Love you!