MARGARET SHAYDAK

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MARGARET SHAYDAK March 10, 1921 - April 20, 2015 Peacefully, with her family at her side, Margaret passed away at the Health Sciences Centre on April 20, 2015 at the age of 94. She will be lovingly remembered and deeply missed by her immediate family: daughter, Sharon (Steven), grandson, Jamie (Catherine), her brothers Ted (Wendy), Albert (Betty), and Bill, and sisters, Betty and Doreen, as her well as her many friends. She was predeceased by her parents Willie and Annie Cooper, brothers Cyril and John, sister Sheila, husband Stephen, and son Robert. Margaret was a kind, compassionate woman who spent her long life looking after the people she loved and in helping others. She was an avid gardener and loved animals. She enjoyed sewing, baking, knitting, crocheting and was always working on one or two craft projects at any given time. She loved music, going to the ballet and watching "Dancing with the Stars". She never lost her appreciation for a good-looking man. Born in London, England, Margaret was the eldest of nine children. She assumed a parenting role at the early age of 16 when her mother suddenly died from pneumonia and she began looking after her younger siblings. She met her husband, Stephen, during the Second World War, was married in England, and came to live in Winnipeg after the end of the war. Margaret was a stay-at-home mother to her two children, Sharon and Robert, showering all her love and attention on them as she nurtured them to adulthood. She is fondly remembered by her children as being the "best of mums". Once her children were grown, Margaret worked full-time at the Health Sciences Centre in Central Supply until her retirement at age 65. Never one to remain idle, Margaret then became a nanny to Taylor and Graham with whom she continued to have a relationship until her passing and who she loved and considered her honorary grandchildren. But most especially, Margaret loved her grandson, Jamie, who was the light of her life, and for whom she played an active and essential role in his upbringing. Margaret's compassion and nurturing ways were grounded in her Christian faith. She spent decades as a member of the Presbyterian church. She worked tirelessly at her church as a member of the choir, baking countless dainties for church events, contributing a never-ending supply of her craft projects, teaching Sunday School, looking after children in the church's Summer Program and being an active WMS (Women's Missionary Society) member. She was still doing many of these activities well into her early 90s. Margaret's last four years presented many challenges but she showed great resilience and courage in meeting them. Losing a limb in a below-knee amputation in 2011, she was able, through a truly inspiring perseverance, to walk out of the hospital on a prosthetic leg at the age of 90. In 2014, she underwent a major jaw surgery for cancer, a very risky operation in a person her age but again, through an indomitable will, she survived and returned home. She spent all her 94 years living independently in her own apartment with minimal support from home care and her family. She also continued, although wheelchair bound, to attend church regularly on Sundays and the "Crafty Ladies" every Tuesday until her passing. Anyone who knew Margaret could not help but be impressed by her no-nonsense, get-on-with-it, never-complain approach to life. She always placed the needs of others before her own and was loving and unquestionably loyal to all those she cared about. She treasured and kept every card and gift she ever received, not for their extrinsic value, but because they were from the people she cared about and therefore precious. Margaret will be deeply missed by all those who were fortunate enough to know her. May she rest in peace. A memorial service will be held on Monday, April 27, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, 61 Picardy Place with a reception to follow. Interment will then follow at Green Acres Cemetery. The family would like to thank Dr. April Boyd and the nursing and UA staff on GA3 at the Health Sciences Centre who took such good care of Margaret during her final days. In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to a charity of your choice. GREEN ACRES Funeral Home and Cemetery (204) 222-3241 Condolences may be sent to www.greenacresfuneralhome.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 25, 2015