MARGARET EVELYN SAUVE (GALBRAITH)

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MARGARET EVELYN SAUVE (nee GALBRAITH) August 29, 1921 - September 14, 2014 It is with great sorrow and a certain amount of relief that we announce the passing of Margaret (Maggie to many of her friends) at the Burnaby General Hospital on September 14, 2014. Maggie had just celebrated her ninety-third birthday two weeks earlier. Mom was born in Kennedy, Saskatchewan on August 29, 1921. She left Saskatchewan as a timid seventeen year old and headed to Winnipeg to study nursing. It was here Maggie met and fell in love with Paul, her future husband. Together they produced seven children and Maggie couldn't be happier. With Maggie, one can truly say that, throughout her entire life, her very best friends were her children. That is something that never changed as she was just as caring, loving and engaging at ninety-three as she was at twenty-three. Mom had a keen sense of adventure and for her the greatest invention of all time was the automobile. Although she never drove herself, she made sure the car and tent trailer were put to good use. Family camping trips were numerous and far ranging and at each stop Maggie would find new adventures for her and the kids. Things like getting lost in South Dakota as night descended or using an old fur coat to make it appear there was a bear in the washroom. After frightening a few campers we would scurry back to our campsite laughing, giggling and thinking "What a crazy, but wonderful mom we have." Maggie was also one of the hardest working people I have ever known. Using her nursing skills she set up a guest home which serviced many elderly clients. Maggie's natural tendency to take care of people did not go unnoticed as many doctors throughout the city lauded the good care their patients received from Maggie. All her life, Maggie never stopped taking care of people. When "Daddy" retired from the rail road they spent several years golfing at small towns throughout the province, but at the age of sixty-six he had a series of strokes and Maggie took care of him until his death at sixty-eight. Although Maggie had a rich and fulfilling life, there was one dark shadow from which she had difficulty escaping. Mom never completely got over the death of her third daughter, Bonnie. Bonnie was killed in a traffic incident in England when she was twenty-three. Although it took a while, Mom did become reinvigorated and her wonderful smile returned to her face. Well mom, you fought the good fight. You have touched many people in significant ways. Your care. Your compassion. Your humour. These are the things which define you. We're going to miss you mom. This old planet just won't be the same without you. Take care and show them how to have fun up there. Funeral arrangements and cremation have already been taken care of in Burnaby, BC. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to a charity of your choice.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Sep 20, 2014