MARGARET JEAN CRIDDLE (RAMAGE)

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MARGARET JEAN CRIDDLE
(nee RAMAGE)
November 5, 1929 – March 28, 2022

On March 28, 2022, Margaret Criddle passed away following a long goodbye due to a lengthy challenge with dementia.
Margaret was predeceased by her loving husband Percy Criddle, her parents, William and Gertrude Ramage, siblings, Jack Ramage, Cay Crozier (Albert), Don Ramage (Joyce), and sister-in-law Freda Ramage. She was also predeceased by husband Kenneth Perry.
Margaret is survived by her brother Bill Ramage, sister-in-law Eileen Ramage and nieces and nephews, David, Stewart, Sheila and Rob Ramage; Bruce and Bill Ramage; Kelly Wilson, Terry Crozier-Botifan and Lori Schafer; and Derek, Donald and Patti Ramage, together with their families. Margaret held dear Percy's children, Perry, Ron, Jo-Ann, Larry, Helen and Greg, 12 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren as well as Ken's children, Norman, Kathy and Eleanor and their children.
Margaret grew up the youngest of five children in a busy and loving home on Banning Street in Winnipeg. She attended Greenway, Laura Secord and Daniel McIntyre schools where she excelled academically. Her childhood memories centered around the close bond she had with her parents and siblings whom she adored deeply. She delighted in recalling simple childhood pleasures such as being treated to candy by her father during their walks home from school. She fondly remembered her mother's great effort to ensure that the family spent summers cottaging at Boundary Park, MB, where Margaret strived to keep up with her older siblings as they swam and rode bikes all season long. It was these memories that sustained her while in care.
Fiercely independent, ambitious and strong willed, as a young woman Margaret moved to Calgary, AB and then to Oakville, ON where she began a career in real estate, achieving great success not only as an agent but also as an investor. During this time she married Ken Perry. They subsequently moved to Vancouver where she continued to prosper in real estate while at the same time supporting Ken in his work, which provided her the opportunity to travel the world. Following Ken's sudden passing, Margaret had the unbelievable good fortune to reconnect with a dear friend from her Winnipeg years, Percy Criddle. Their shared grief at losing their spouses developed into a deeply loving relationship and they were married in the fall of 1987. Margaret described Percy as "her gift in life". No truer words have been spoken. They shared a strong belief in the importance of family. Margaret loved being included in Percy's large family and was a proud Nana to their many grandchildren. Margaret was thrilled with the close friendship that developed between Percy and her siblings, resulting in many years of fun-filled times while they wintered in Carlsbad, CA together. Margaret and Percy loved nothing more than welcoming friends and family into their homes in Carlsbad and Sidney, BC. They also shared a love of travelling in their R.V., particularly their many journeys to Carlsbad or to visit the Criddle Homestead and family in Manitoba. When dementia crept into Margaret's life, their devotion to each other and Percy's steadfast commitment to her care allowed Margaret to remain at home for far longer than anyone could have anticipated. Sadly, Percy passed away in October of 2020 at which time her dementia ironically served as a blessing, not allowing Margaret to comprehend this devastating loss.
A private service will be held in Sidney, BC as well as one in Winnipeg this coming summer.
The family would like to express our appreciation and thanks to Rest Haven Lodge for their exceptional care of Margaret as well as to her stepdaughters, Jo-Ann Saville and Helen Criddle and her nephew Derek Ramage who so lovingly attended to her needs when she could no longer do so herself.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Alzheimer Society of British Columbia www.alzheimer.ca or the Cerebral Palsy Association of Manitoba's CoHabit independent living initiative www.cohabit.ca

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 09, 2022