MARGARET JANE AUSTMAN (published on January 24, 2009)
| MARGARET JANE AUSTMAN (nee EKIN) September 13, 1924 - January 18, 2009 After a long and valiant battle with Alzheimer Disease, and with her three daughters by her side, Margaret passed away at the age of 84 at Lions Personal Care Centre on January 18, 2009. She is survived by her daughters, Doreen Cooper (Tim), Janis Kendall (Greg), Karen; four grandchildren, Scott, Alison and Kaitlin (Cooper) and Ian (Kendall) and her sister Doreen Trembath (Dick) of St. Albert, AB. She was predeceased by her parents, her husband Arni in 1990 and her sister Dorothy Sly in 2002. Margaret was born and lived her entire life in Winnipeg, attending Britannica and Linwood schools as a youngster and graduating from St. James Collegiate. After high school she worked for a few years as a bookkeeper at Mid-West Paper. As a young woman, Margaret was quiet yet sociable and enjoyed activities with friends, such as skating, dancing and bowling. She married Arni Austman on July 21, 1951 and they stayed happily married for 39 years. After several busy years as a homemaker, Margaret began working at the Health Sciences Centre where she continued working for 16 years. She retired at age 60, and she and Arni spent a number of fun years doing anything they pleased as a retired couple. Margaret had a wonderful sense of humour and was quietly clever and witty. She loved reading, watching movies, camping, music and especially children. Time spent with her grandchildren gave her immeasurable joy and happiness. For several years she and Arni kept a trailer at Spruce Sands Trailer Park, where they enjoyed the outdoors and many happy times visiting with friends and family. Margaret was a loving wife, an exemplary mother, a doting and mischievous grandmother and the best of friends, always ready with a cup of tea, a gentle welcoming smile and a sympathetic ear. She was truly a lovely, kind, tolerant, tactful and dignified woman. We loved her dearly and shall miss her terribly. We are comforted by the hope that she and Arni are together again. They have a lot of catching up to do. As Margaret's illness progressed, she moved from the family home into Lions Manor in November 1999, where she was embraced by a warm and caring community of staff and other residents. The family wishes to extend heartfelt thanks and gratitude to the staff of 7th floor Supportive Housing and 4th floor PCC. Cremation has taken place. A memorial service to celebrate Margaret's life will be held on Saturday, February 7, 2009 at 12:30 p.m. at Chapel Lawn Funeral Home with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba would be greatly appreciated. |
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