Marga Catharina Johanna Dowling

Marga Catharina Johanna Dowling, 74, of North Vancouver passed away September 01, 2023 with her family by her side.

She was born to the late Anton and Wilhelmina Wierda June 27, 1949 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Marga emigrated to Vancouver, Canada in 1963 and received her Nurse’s Aide Certificate in her early 20’s where she successfully and joyfully served in several care homes on the North Shore and worked part-time at the Lynn Valley health food store. Endlessly generous and caring for the needy, she went on to volunteer in numerous causes and institutions including working in her two children’s schools, the North Shore Harvest Project, as a Shop Steward in her union, in her church coffee shop and thrift store and in many others causes. She loved to “adopt” folks who were in need. A lover of gardening, wildlife, art, music and great food she had a passion for the beautiful things in God’s creation.

She married the late Richard Dowling in 1967, who had emigrated from Glasgow, Scotland to North Vancouver. They met at the North Vancouver Legion dance hall. After marriage, Marga and Richard lived together in Burnaby for several years where they built a house, before relocating to Lynn Valley where they raised their family. Marga is survived by two children: Michael John Dowling of Coquitlam and Monique Gibson of North Vancouver. She is also survived by two grandchildren Taylor-Lynn Dalton, Monique’s Daughter, as well as Benjamin Michael Dowling, Michael’s Son. Marga was predeceased by her loving husband in 2010.

Marga had a sharp mind and wonderful sense of humour, and was a posterchild Dutch woman, keeping an immaculate, proud, and beautifully appointed home. She loved to cook for others and some of her famous delicious meals the children will miss were her macaroni and cheese, her nasi goring and her famous blueberry muffins that the children’s Scottish Grandfather could never get enough of. She loved to dance and play music in her home. As her health degraded, she used to say she didn’t want any fuss about her passing, and told the children that dad was visiting her regularly in the form of beautiful birds landing on her porch. She believed in God and felt she was already safe and free to join her husband in heaven when her time came. Her passing was relatively brief, and to her wishes.

Marga’s Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, October 14, 2023, at 11 a.m. at the Mount Seymour United Church, 1200 Parkgate Avenue, North Vancouver, BC.

In lieu of sending flowers, the family asks that people make donations in support of The North Shore Harvest Project

https://fundrazr.com/42H8W2?ref=ab_27baD2LfgFS27baD2LfgFS