Tribute

Margaret Alice Reader,90, dedicated and loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, and friend, passed away peacefully into the afterlife on the evening of August 31, 2022 at her home in Cobble Hill, BC with her husband of 68 years by her side.

Margaret was the youngest child of Reverend Russel and Alice McGillivray. Born September 19, 1931 in Ottawa Ontario, she completed her family of brother’s Donald, Collin, and Russel. Margaret grew up in Oakville, Ontario where she met the love of her life, John Reader. They were married in Toronto, Ontario by Margaret’s father on March 13, 1954. Soon after, they moved to Scarborough, Ontario to begin raising their family. From there Margaret moved with her family to Winnipeg, Manitoba, and later Thompson, Manitoba to support her husband’s career and their growing family. Years later they moved to Surrey, British Columbia for the beautiful weather and more recently moved to Vancouver, Island where she spent her final years living in Cobel Hill, British Columbia. Though Margaret lived in many places, her favourite place to live was Mazatlan, Mexico where she escaped the cold Canadian winters with her life-long husband John.

Having a love of art, Margaret volunteered as a docent and educated visitors on the exhibits at the Surrey Art Museum. While living in Surrey, she also volunteered with one of the ladies’ groups at the Parish of St. Mark Anglican Church where she served as the president of the group for 2 years.

Aside from volunteering, Margaret loved sewing, cooking, baking, tennis, reading, and playing bridge, but most of all she loved her family. She was a fabulous mother to her five children and all of their neighbourhood friends, showing grace and patience to the many children who spread dirt and sand through her house. Although Margaret had a large family, she showed each one of them how important they are by attending numerous birthdays, graduations, weddings, and other holidays. If she couldn’t be there in person there was always a card sent and often something she had sewn. A sleep over at Grandma’s meant waking up to the smell of baking bread and a selection of homemade jams and jellies with that bread for breakfast.

She will be lovingly remembered by her beloved husband of 68 years John; their 5 children, Holly (Gord), Steven (Fawn), Brian (Shyanne), David, and Sandi; 9 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren, and numerous other nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends.

A celebration of life will be held at The Anglican Church of St. John the Baptist 3295 Cobble Hill Road, Cobble Hill, BC on October 1, 2022 at 1:00 p.m. with refreshments to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Canadian Cancer Society.