Margaret Wallace Parker

With broken hearts, we are sad to report the passing of our beautiful mother and grandmother, Margaret Wallace Parker (nee Borland), peacefully, on Sunday, September 11th, 2022, at Riverview Health Centre, surrounded by the love of family.

Margaret is survived by her children Rob (Val), Andy (Kathy), Wendy, and Dave (Lisa), her sister Janet (Dave) Lawson, granddaughters Sophie and Grace, step grandchildren Zack and Nicole, as well as many nieces, nephews, and friends.

She was predeceased by her husband Robert, her sisters Christine and Mary, her brothers Jim, Archie and Robbie, and her beloved granddaughter Annabel Margaret.

Mom was born in Kilmarnock, Scotland where she grew up on the family’s dairy farms at Onthank and Alton Hill. Going to school as a wee girl during the Second World War, her family experienced many shortages and challenges, but they always managed to persevere and thrive by depending on one another.

Mom met Dad at a Young Farmer’s Club dance near Glasgow, where he was a student in 1955, and they were married at the Burns Monument Hotel in Ayr in 1959. One week later, they immigrated to Canada, eventually settling in Winnipeg to raise their family.

A voracious reader, Mom loved history and returned to school after starting her family to earn a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Manitoba. She then worked at the Manitoba Archives and at the University of Manitoba.

Mom had many passions in life. She would attend auctions looking for antiques that reminded her of home in Scotland. She loved cooking and baking and would spend hours in the kitchen trying new recipes and sharing them with family over a pot of tea. She was happiest spending time in the kitchen sitting around the table, sharing her treats with her children and grandchildren. After retirement she enjoyed traveling with Dad, exploring Europe, visiting family in Scotland, and taking regular trips to Victoria.

Mom also instilled a love of music in all of our lives. She raised her family to the soundtrack of big band jazz, Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennett and Shirley Bassey. She passed down her love of music to her children and grandchildren.

Mom and Dad were best friends and were married for 51 years until Dad passed away in 2010. She was very close to all of her children, and adored spending time with her granddaughters. She radiated happiness and joy when she was with them. Her steadfast and unconditional love and commitment to family is undoubtedly the greatest gift she passed down to her children and grandchildren.

We love you and will miss you more than words can say.

A private family memorial took place on Wednesday, September 14th, 2022. Interment will take place at Thomson in the Park on Wednesday, September 21st, 2022.

The family would like to thank Dr. Blom and the staff at Riverview Health Centre for their kindness and compassion. We would also like to thank Dr. Brian Sharkey for his exceptional care for Mom over these many years.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Riverview Health Centre Foundation.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.thomsoninthepark.com for the PARKER family.