Obituaries

WILLSON, Margaret (Peggy) Helen

WILLSON, Margaret (Peggy) Helen, left us peacefully on April 29, 2017, surrounded by loved ones at her home in Kelowna. Born July 24, 1913, in Winnipeg, Manitoba to Charles and Helen Fraser. The oldest of 11 children, she was predeceased by her parents, her loving husband Ralph, 2004, son John, 1995, daughter-in-law Janet Dayman, 2002, her brothers Bob Fraser, Dyke Fraser, Allan Fraser, and Don Fraser, and sisters Elsie Colvin, Bea Siska, and Jean Lefley, sisters-in-law Jean Fraser, Bernice Fraser, and brothers-in-law Keith Campbell, Elias Siska, Bob Lefley, Jack Colvin. She is survived by her daughter Jean Swindells, son-in-law Art Swindells; grandchildren, Christina Swindells-Nader (Mounir Nader), Jason Swindells, Melanie Willson (Matt Rader), Carlee WillsonGurney (Laurence Gurney) and Danica Willson (Joseph Taylor); great-grandchildren Neela and Nora Rader, Khalil and Rafiq Nader, Anomantia and Furia Gurney, and Cedar Taylor; brothers Ron (Jeanette) Fraser, Len Fraser, sister Joyce Campbell, sisters-in-law Cora Fraser and Dawn Fraser; and dozens of beloved nieces and nephews and their children and grandchildren. Peggy lived every one of her 103 3/4 years to its fullest. Breaking her right femur at 100 and her left femur at 102 slowed her down but did not dispel her enthusiasm for life. Earlier this month she wondered if maybe a heart transplant would help her; if she could have undergone heart surgery to fix her leaky heart valve, she would have done so. She loved getting to know people, learning their stories and telling hers, snuggling babies and baking treats for kids, gardening, dancing, winning at cribbage, penguins, and watching curling tournaments and Jeopardy. Growing up in Winnipeg, Birds Hill, Ekhart, and Argyle through the Great Depression, and being the daughter of Scottish immigrants, made her frugal. Yet she was beyond bountiful with her love and she was loved by so many. After moving to Vancouver in 1939, meeting Ralph and then marrying him the next year, she spent several years apart from him while he served in WWII but upon his return from Europe they bought the first of many trollers and worked together fishing the coast of BC. After 10 years with a close-knit community in Bella Bella, they settled in Coquitlam where their neighbours quickly became like family. In retirement they spent their winters in Mexico and Peggy and Ralph added to their company of friends who were like family, all of whom would regularly receive letters from Peggy. In 1998, as Ralph's dementia became more pronounced, they moved to Kelowna and Peggy made more friends in The Lexington complex and in Ralph's dementia support group. Until very recently Peggy was the last person to leave the party at a family wedding, and she knit baby blankets for new members of the extended Fraser family and the family of her heart. For one who had such a big heart, it is fitting that she succumbed to congestive heart failure. It is hard to say goodbye to Peggy but in the words of Stuart McLean,

Link: www.firstmemorialfuneralkelowna.com

Condolence Messages

May 13, 2017
Sincere condolences to family and friends of Peggy. Her positive, upbeat attitude was an inspiration and her life stories were amazing. Nancy Kostiuk
May 06, 2017
Dear Jean and Art, I am sorry to read of the passing of your Mom. I'm Sandy that worked at Lakeside Pharmacy. I so enjoyed your Mom through the years. She lite up the pharmacy when she'd walk in with that wonderful smile. I think she was 100 when she came in all excited that she'd past her drivers test, but she told me she wasn't going to drive, just wanted to prove to herself that she could pass. Yes she definitely was an inspiration. I'm so fortunate that I had the pleasure of knowing her. God bless. Sandy Zimmermann.
May 05, 2017
What a lovely obituary for such an amazing lady. I thoroughly enjoyed my visits with Peggy as she transcended us through time with her descriptive, heartfelt story telling. I especially enjoyed and will always remember the romantic story of how she met Ralph. So told the story with such love and teenage innocence. My deepest condolences to Melanie and the rest of Peggy's family. Mona
May 04, 2017
Sincerest condolences to all of you. Peggy was an such inspiration, and set a good example in every way. She is one of the most amazing women I have ever known, and it has been an honor to have had her in my life. I will miss her dearly and will never forget her.

Chris