Margaret Whithead McDevitt

July 25,1927-January 25,2016

Peacefully, on January 25, 2016, our Mom, Grandma, and Great-Grandma (GG), Margaret McDevitt, passed away at the Grace Hospice at the age of 88.

Margaret was predeceased by her parents, James and Janet Fraser, her brothers Gordon, Ken, and Grant and sister Jan, husband Paul McDevitt (2000), and partner George Russell(2009).

She is survived by her daughters Kim (Brian Coxe), Kerry (Gary Snell), Kathy (Jeff Manning) and son Michael as well as five grandchildren, Johanna (Julio Soto), Erin (Kyle Spencer), Chelsey Hupe, Kaitlin Snell, and John Bigelow and four great grandchildren, Audrina, T.J., Natalie and Hazel and sisters -in-law, Joyce Fraser Millice and Judy Fraser , cousin Don Seaton and her many nieces and nephews.

Margaret was born and raised in the Elmwood area of Winnipeg. She was the youngest of five children in a very loving and active family. She participated in baseball at school and rowing at the Kildonan Canoe Club. She and her brothers swam, skated and tobogganed on the Red River. She made many lifelong friends from her neighborhood.

After high school, she worked for the Grain Exchange and then Hudson Bay House until her marriage to Paul in 1950.

Margaret and Paul settled in St.James in 1957 where they raised their four children. They also built a cottage at Belair, MB where the family spent many happy summer holidays. Margaret returned to work during this time, first at the Hudson Bay and then, in a secretarial position, for the St James School Division for many years.

Margaret was creative and stylish. She loved to paint and draw, sew her own clothes and redecorate our house whenever she got the urge. She joined the PEO Sisterhood Chapter N in 1962 and was an active member for 53 years. She believed strongly in the educational projects for women that PEO supports and she made many wonderful friends during her time in the sisterhood.

In 1979, Margaret and Paul moved to Calgary where they were site managers for Odyssey Towers before retiring to Kelowna in 1992. Retirement was a very happy time in their lives and they really enjoyed this time together. In 2000, they moved back to Winnipeg to be closer to the family.

In 2002, Margaret met George Russell and she and George spent 7 happy years together. Margaret moved to the Kiwanis Senior's complex in St. James in 2010.

The family would like to thank Palliative and Home Care, St Boniface Hospital, HSC CancerCare, Riverview Palliative Care Unit, and the Grace Hospice for the care and support received during Margaret's illness. We would like to thank the Management and Staff of the Kiwanis Terrace for all their help as well. A very special thank you to Margaret's very cherished friend and sis-in-law, Joyce Fraser Millice for all her weekly cards and phone calls and to her dear friend and PEO sister Joyce Powell , who checked on Margaret daily and took her down to lunch at the Kiwanis Terrace.

Cremation has taken place and in keeping with Margaret's wishes, a private family service will take place at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation, in Margaret's memory, to CancerCare Manitoba, the Grace Hospice, the PEO Program for Continuing Education, or to a charity of your choice.

"When thou liest down, thou shall not be afraid for God is with you. Yea thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet."