MARGARET JEAN DAHER (WONG SEN HO)

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

MARGARET JEAN DAHER (WONG SEN HO) Peacefully, on Wednesday morning, July 20, 2016, my mom Margaret Daher, aged 73, passed away at Deer Lodge Centre. My mom was predeceased by her parents, Jean and Frank Wong; her sister Shirley Cox; and my father Alfred Daher. Besides myself, Michael, her only child, my Mom is survived by her sister Lorna Gallagher (Pat); brother Stan Wong; aunt Beatrice Wong; and many nieces and nephews: Gary Gurniak, Janice Poloski, Jamie Daher, Kevin Daher, Jeff Daher, Deanni Daher, Shannon Daher-deGraaf, Erin Cox, Ryan Gallagher, Susan Gallagher, Travis Wong, and Jordan Wong; and many cousins across Canada. Margaret's family was one of the first Chinese families to settle in Fort William, ON, where she was born on September 20, 1942. Mom was an excellent artist who in her school years had her drawings and paintings put on display. She was also an accomplished accordion player and singer. An animal lover, my mom was a supporter of the Winnipeg Humane Society. She loved our three dogs and for a time was an owner of a racehorse at Assiniboia Downs. In the 1970s, my mom looked forward to the long road trips that we made every spring to the US and Mexico. In her career, Margaret was a dedicated x-ray stenographer with doctors, Macpherson and Childe and Radiology Consultants of Winnipeg. In 1992, my mom retired at age 50. During her retirement years she enjoyed puttering around her house and helping me with office duties in my businesses. She never missed one of my classical guitar recitals. Her biggest joys were cooking HUGE dinners for family and going out to her favourite restaurants. She also looked forward to her yearly summer visits with her brother Stan from Ottawa. In 2011 my mom had kidney failure and started hemodialysis. During this time she was also diagnosed with dementia. In 2012 Margaret moved to Deer Lodge Centre where she looked forward to Friday night visits with Lorna, Pat, Ryan and Susan. She also loved coming home for dinners and sleepover movie nights with the cats and me. Despite all of her suffering, she never lost her appetite for good food and sweets. Every time I visited her she smiled and asked, "Mike what did you bring to eat? Feed me!" Mom loved eating and had two Denver sandwiches and a bag of onion rings a few hours before her passing. Lastly, everyone who knew Margaret loved her stories and fun sense of humour, which she maintained up until her last hours. Mom, you were the sweetest, kindest person I ever knew. I will miss all of our late night visits and Sunday night cruises downtown to get fries and ice cream. Thank you for everything...all the love and having me... Love, your baby boy. I would like to express my appreciation to the doctors and staff of Deer Lodge Centre's Tower 6 and 3, The St. Boniface Hospital Hemodialysis Unit and The Health Sciences Centre Vascular Surgery Clinic. The exceptional care you gave to my mom will never be forgotten. In accordance with my mom's request, cremation has taken place and no service will be held.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jul 30, 2016