MARGARET ELENA SIMMS

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MARGARET ELENA SIMMS Margaret Elena Simms (nee Thorne) died peacefully in her 95th year at Tache Centre on November 13, 2002. Born in London, England in 1908, Margaret and her family came to Canada in 1913 making their home in the North End of Winnipeg. There she attended Norquay and Argyle Schools and later St. Johns Tech and went on to complete her Normal School training at the old William Street site. It was at Normal School that she met her future husband Eldon. Unable to find a teaching position during the Depression, she trained at Success Business College as a secretary. Before her marriage she worked as executive secretary to the head of Fleishmans in Winnipeg. After her husbands death in 1964 she worked for 10 years as a substitute teacher in St. Vital. Apart from a 15 year interval (1940-1955) in Portage la Prairie, Margaret lived her life after age five in Winnipeg. As a person, Margaret was friendly, cheerful and out-going. She had a spontaneous and delightful sense of humour and was known for her musical talent. She enjoyed playing the piano until the day before her death. Besides music, her abiding passions were poetry and Scrabble. Above all, Margaret was a people-person, who made and kept numerous friends over her many years. A life-long Anglican, for the past 38 years Margaret belonged to St. Mary Magdalene Church in St. Vital, where she sang in the choir and served as vestry clerk. Margaret was a resident of Catherine Place for nine happy years before moving in 2000 to the Tache Centre. During these years she was active on the Residents Council and enriched the lives of many of the residents in various ways, most notably by organizing and accompanying sing-songs and monthly church services. Margaret was predeceased by her parents, George and Mary Ellen Thorne and her brother George William. She was also predeceased by her husband Eldon and her only son Don. She is survived by her daughter Kathleen (Robert) of Edmonton; and five beloved grandchildren, Thomas Simms (Karen) of Winnipeg, Marilyn Simms and Rob Simms of Toronto, Lorna Vandeering (Mark) of Vancouver and Peter Brown (Margaret) of London, ON; her daughter-in-law Violet Simms of Winnipeg; nieces, Sandra McKay (Rick) of Winnipeg, Edythe Webster of Surrey, BC, and special friend Trish Allison-Simms of Winnipeg. Margaret was also a loving great-grandmother to Laura and Ashley Simms of Winnipeg, Aidan, Leigh, and Jenna Vandeering, Vancouver and Leland, Wesley, Camille Simms of London, ON and Genevieve Simms of Toronto. The family wishes to thank the 3ABC staff at Tache Centre for their skill and devotion in caring for Margaret. Special thanks to Lynn, Nineta, Esther, June, Reisa, Ed and Willy. Funeral service will be held on Monday, November 18 at 12:00 noon at St. Mary Magdalene Anglican Church, 3 St. Vital Rd., with Rev. Bob Webster presiding. Viewing will take place one-half hour prior to the service. Interment will follow in St. Vital Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Margarets memory to Tache Centre, 185 Despins, Winnipeg, MB R2H 2B3 or to a favourite charity. CROPO FUNERAL CHAPEL 586-8044

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 17, 2002