June 8, 1929 – January 7, 2019
Sister Margaret died on January 7, 2019, at the age of 89 and in her 72nd year as a School Sister of Notre Dame.
Sister Margaret was born in Macklin, Saskatchewan. Her father, Michael was from North Dakota and her mother, Margaret Schmidt from Revenue, Saskatchewan.
At age three her guardian angel protected her on two occasions. She liked to accompany her father while harvesting crops. One day when she was on her way home, Margaret, being tired, sat down to rest. She fell asleep among the tall yellow wheat. Before her father realized, Margaret was picked up by the binder wings and tossed into the air. However, she landed safely with only a slight wound in her leg. On another occasion, her young life was safeguarded when she was almost stepped upon by a run-away horse.
In elementary school, Margaret was taught by the Ursuline sisters, whose lives impressed her. The Ursuline sisters recognized that she might have a vocation and strongly encouraged her to enter their congregation. However, four of Margaret’s cousins had already entered SSND, and Margaret felt drawn to follow them.
In August 1943 she received the candidate’s bonnet at Notre Dame Convent, Leipzig, Saskatchewan. Along with two cousins she traveled by train to Waterdown, Ontario. She continued her high school studies in Waterdown, but she decided she was more suited for domestic service. In July 1946 she was received as Novice Frances Clare. She professed her vows in 1947.
Sister Margaret was a devoted homemaker for communities in Kitchener, Cambridge, Hamilton and Salt Lake, Saskatchewan. In preparation for caring for pre-school children at St. Agatha Orphanage, in 1951, Sister Margaret took a course in Pre-School Education at the Institute of Child Study at the University of Toronto.
When Notre Dame College, Waterloo opened in 1961, Sister Margaret was asked to do various housekeeping tasks at the women’s residence. This residence was on the campus of St. Jerome’s University. Her “green thumb” added to the homey atmosphere for the residents.
In 1966 she moved to Waterdown, where she assisted with the boarders at Notre Dame Academy. In 1977 Sister Margaret attended the Credo Program at Gonzaga University, Spokane, Washington. She then returned to Waterdown, where she was in charge of the boarders’ dining room.
Beginning in 1980, Sister Margaret became involved in pastoral care, visiting the sick and elderly in Newmarket, Ontario and in Unity and Regina, Saskatchewan, and in Edmonton, Alberta. On returning to Ontario in 2000, Sister Margaret continued visiting senior residences and the hospital in Kenora. She also volunteered at the noon-hour soup kitchen, called Agape Table.
In 2005 Sister Margaret retired to Notre Dame Convent, Waterdown.
Mass of Christian Burial for Sister Margaret was celebrated on January 11 at Notre Dame Convent, Waterdown. The presider and homilist was Rev. Wayne Lobsinger, Episcopal Vicar for Consecrated Life. Concelebrant was Rev. Pablito Labado, Chaplain.
Attending the funeral liturgy were her brother Arnold and his wife, Geraldine, and Sister Margaret’s niece Annette Jones. Other surviving siblings are her brothers, Edward and Donald, and her sister, Carol Ryan.
S. Joan Helm
