Margaret passed away peacefully in the early evening at home on Saturday August 15, 2020, attended to faithfully by her sweetie Harold and loving caregiver Maricel after a few hours of French songs played on Chuck’s mandolin. She was known to defy expectations and to that end pursued her education, against her mother’s wishes, upon marrying Scrabble playing Winnipeg-raised Harold. It proved to be a match made in heaven, lasting more than 65 years.

Margaret marched to her own drummer. Once she set her mind to something, she wouldn’t be moved. She had perfect pitch and was frequently heard tee-teeing Simon and Garfunkel tunes. She was known to have decent command of up to 10 languages, and in another life might have been an interpreter at the UN. She spent many hours arranging affairs at the Experiment in International Living, helping refugee families escape the horrors of war, and listening to the CBC at a volume that would blast the most robust speaker system. She was pretty much a lifelong student, infusing this interest in her multiple degreed children.

Survived by Harold, her sister Judy Simmonds and a multitude of children and grandchildren, we think of her as she travels to her next destination, armed with her linguistic skills, unencumbered by any two week isolation requirement.

There will a private graveside funeral and Shiva, respecting COVID-19 restrictions. Donations welcome to United Jewish Appeal (UJA Federation of Greater Toronto) in her honour at 416-635-2883 https://jewishtoronto.com/