Margaret M. Stokes (nee Strawn) R.N. ( Niagara Falls, 1944)
Mom passed peacefully at Ina Grafton Gage LTC surrounded by her family on September 3, 2018 in her 98th year. Beloved wife of the late Orville F. Stokes(1985). Dear Mother of Gary (Marilou) Stokes, Linda (Gerald Maney) Shedden and Jim (Sandra) Stokes. Dear grandmother of Robert (Shelley), Daniel (Peggy) Stokes and Sandie (Ted) Kares, James (Stephanie) and Andrew (Stephanie) Stokes, cherished great grandmother to Brooke and Layne Kares and Nicholas and Caroline Stokes. Predeceased by Sisters Edna Reading-Rogala, Irene Grimwood, June Aldrey and Shirley Henderson, brothers Earl, Robert and Kenneth, and parents Clarence and Rose (Kent) Strawn. Margaret was a proud graduate of Niagara Falls School of Nursing in 1944 and worked as an RN in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, then many years in the Welland Hospital, retiring in 1972. Upon graduating Mom joined dad in Halifax, NS where they were wed during WW2. They brought Gary home after the war and settled in Wainfleet on the family farm. Dad worked at Union Carbide while Mom worked at Welland Hospital and raised their three children. Together they ran a small garden farm selling produce to local stores and a variety of customers throughout Niagara. At the same time Dad was an avid fur trapper and Mom was alongside him all the time helping with various tasks. Together they loved to go fishing to Magnetewan or Deep River, Ontario twice each year and usually once with the kids in the summer. Mom was active in the United Church - Salem, Emmanuel and Wesley United, after she moved to Welland. She was also an accomplished cook and baker. No one left our home hungry and knew they could drop in and Mom would provide a meal. At the same time Mom could sew, knit (right up until her passing) and crochet most anything and got great pleasure from doing so, then gave it away. In the past couple of years at Ina Grafton Gage LTC , St. Catharines, Mom was knitting scarves for Out of the Cold, Thorold and squares to be sewn into blankets for cancer patients at Juravinski Hospital.

Above all else Mom was wise, rational and compassionate. She moulded us all with her advice and her easy going nature. She had a razor sharp mind, excellent memory of everything and a great sense of humour right until her death. We are so thankful for this and a long life of such a wonderful mother, grandmother and great grandmother. Thank you to Ina Grafton Gage LTC for their excellent care during the past 2 years, as well as friends and staff at Wesley Robins Retirement Village and her many friends, relatives, nieces and nephews who would visit or call and stay in touch by phone. Family and friends will be received at the JAMES L. PEDLAR FUNERAL HOME, 1292 Pelham Street, Fonthill on Thursday, September 6th from 2-4 and 7-9 pm. The funeral service to honour Margaret's life will take place at the funeral home on Friday, September 7th beginning at 11:00 am followed with a reception. Interment will take place at Zion Cemetery, Wainfleet. Donations can be made to Wesley United Church, Ina Grafton Gage Activation Department, or the charity of one's choice.

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