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MARGARET ELIZABETH GEMMELL (MARG)
Born: Mar 13, 1929
Date of Passing: Jan 31, 2022
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MARGARET ELIZABETH GEMMELL
A lifetime of unconditional love for family came to a peaceful end, January 31, 2022, in South Surrey, British Columbia.
Margaret (Marg) was born, the second of three children, March 13, 1929, in Swan River, Manitoba, to Harry and Lara Brown. She grew up in a busy household which included her maternal grandparents as well as brothers, Don and Bob. Marg learned well from her mother the joy of giving and caring for family during the difficult depression and war years in Manitoba. In her early teenage years, she set her sights on her brother's friend, Andrew (Andy) Gemmell as her choice for building her own family. They married in 1948 in Winnipeg, and soon after started their family of four boys. All of Marg's considerable energy, expressed so passionately and caringly, were focused for the next 70 plus years on their family as it grew and extended to future generations.
Marg was predeceased by her devoted and loving husband of 70 years, Andy, in 2018. She is survived by her four sons, Robert (Monica) of Kelowna, David of Winnipeg, Paul (Janis) of Abbotsford and Peter (Ramona) of South Surrey, BC; eight grandchildren: Andrea (Andrew) Cochrane, David (Kristina), Matthew (Erin), Andrew (Carly), Jeff, Lauren, Carmen, and Olivia; seven great-grandchildren: Ben, Olivia, Sam, Max, Isla, Jack and Lunella.
While Andy attended to the role of provider, Marg was the nurturer, teacher, coach, referee and certainly the enforcer as she happily embarked on a lifetime of child rearing. Family was always at the center of her life, and she was the foundation for the family. Sunday dinners were always a favourite of the whole family and Marg was never happier than when her extended family enjoyed time and a meal together. She had lots of common sense to share, remarkable intuition and a huge heart.
Andy's career took them to St. Catharines, Oakville, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Mississauga, Peachland and finally Kelowna where they retired. Throughout their years of retirement, they split their time between Kelowna and Naples, Florida, where they enjoyed the company of many friends, often while playing golf. Marg was a highly social person who had the gift of drawing people to her and as a result established a long list of close personal friends.
Although dementia limited her social abilities over the last 15 years, she never forgot those who were important to her and was able, in the moment, to share her beautiful personality with visitors. Special thanks to the staff at Amica, White Rock, who tirelessly provided care and kindness to Margaret in her final two years.
As a mother and grandmother, she had a tremendously positive influence on her family, who will miss her very much, and remember her with much love and appreciation.
As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Feb 12, 2022
Condolences & Memories (2 entries)
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Sincere condolences for your loss - Posted by: Terry Slight (Friend of Fave) on: Feb 18, 2022
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I first met Margaret Gemmell in St.Catharines, Ontario, in about the year 1958. Her husband, Andy Gemmell, was a chartered accountant and held a senior position with the Beaver Lumber company. My father, Keith Mitchell was moved from Regina, Saskatchewan in 1955, to become the division manager for B.L. for the province of Ontario. My father and Andy Gemmell worked together for Beaver Lumber until 1979, when my Dad retired as Vice President and General Manager. Our family as well as the Gemmel family lived in many places. Both Andy and my father Keith Mitchell were working their way up in this company, which was listed on the Toronto stock exchange. We lived in Regina, St.Catharines, Oakville, Winnipeg, and finally moved back to Oakville, Ontario in 1971. My parents had five children, I remember the wonderful picnics our two families had at a special place near Oakville, Caledon. It is likely a suburb of Toronto now, but it was a great place for families to gather and enjoy hiking and walking along the trails of the stream there. Margaret Gemmell and my mother Elinor were close friends. I remember vividly Margaret Gemmell's great sense of humor and her devotion to her family. Beaver Lumber executives were a close group. For the information of the four Gemmell sons, Keith Mitchell passed away at the Oakville Trafalgar Hospital in March of 2014, and my mother Elinor passed away at her home in Oakville in 2020. I hope all four of them are together now. Many women would have been overwhelmed with the time Beaver Lumber required of its management team, but Margaret Gemmell took it all in stride. My sincere condolences to her four sons. You had devoted parents respected by all who knew them. Shelley G,Mitchell, Winnipeg, Manitoba - Posted by: Shelley Gay Mitchell (Friend and admirer) on: Feb 12, 2022