Margaret Dawson

Whoever thought that writing an obituary would be difficult was not so fortunate as we who mourn the death of a wonderful woman, our big sister, Margaret Dawson. Maggie died on December 16, 2024 after lingering for a long time and wishing that her time on earth was over. She shared her feelings with her siblings and waited patiently for the correct time. Then, the task of writing about this wonderful woman fell to those of us who had grown up with her and who loved her dearly for decades.

Marg was the big sister for eight siblings, whom she loved and nurtured and claimed so many times to have raised along with our mother and father. She was born in 1928 and so she deserved to be thought of as an elder, but such a special elder. She always seemed to be near when we needed support and she provided her love and her corrective guidance when we needed it. Imagine how much corrective guidance eight younger siblings would require?

The time prior to the death of an older person is often used for reminiscence. We used it well, as we have used the hours since her death, as times for sharing memories, many of them deeply felt and loving and many of them full of the sharpness of her sense of humour and her skills in dealing with people in her life. Each one of us who remain can happily share anecdotes that relate her affection for family members and her expectation that the lessons of our childhood and youth have been inculcated into our everyday lives.

We often reflect on her career as an assistant to executives in so many professions, many of them related to the arts and crafts and musical part of our culture. We reflect with admiration and pride on the career she maintained that saw her working in Chicago, Vancouver and many other places that we had not been to and knew little about until she came home for a visit at Christmas or a birthday celebration time.

Little known to many, because of their relative youth will be the hundreds of hours Marg spent working on behalf of the Saskatoon Music Festival for years. Little known to many will be the time she worked at the University of Saskatchewan in the College of Nursing and her dedication to improvement of human and interpersonal relationships on campus.

One of the favourite memories of our sister is her consistent habit of coming home to University Drive each day, heading to the piano in the living room and playing a chorus of Pop Goes The Weasel. What a wonderful memory of a precious sister!

Marg was among the first we knew who spoke in a strange language that described sororities such as Beta Sigma Phi, an organization that challenged her and provided her with recognition for her excellence as a planner and organizer.

Since her death family members have frequently spoken about her gifts.

She had an amazing relationship with her siblings and with their children. So often we have heard of her kindness in spending hours playing games, such as Scrabble with those who wanted to be with her. She never seemed to tire of being with the youngsters who remember her with love and fondness. Many will remember her fondness for the cottage at Emma Lake, where she spent wonderfully happy times.

For years Marg was a member of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church at the foot of the Broadway Bridge and to which she walked hundreds of times from her family home on University Drive in Saskatoon.

When her time to relax and retire came she found peace and good friendships in places such as Luther Tower, where she lived on the fifteenth floor for so many years. Being there did not mean Marg did not entertain. She hosted so many meals and games nights that fill our memories with wonderful recollections of joy and happiness.

What a wonderful legacy this lady has left for those of us who knew her, or better still were related to her. Her life was dedicated to caring for and loving people and her family members who remain have so much to be thankful for.

In short, our sister was an amazing part of our family. Marg was

predeceased by her sisters and in-laws, Betty (Bruce) Clark, Norma (Harry) Playle, Isabel Dawson, Evelyn Dawson and Marian (Rod) Postle. She is survived by four Dawson brothers, Bill in Burlington, Ontario and Peter (Vivian), Ernie (Barbara) and Stuart (Esther Emond) in Saskatoon and many special nieces and nephews.

As per Margaret's wish, there will be no funeral service.