Obituary of Margaret Anne Sawchyn

SAWCHYN, Margaret passed away peacefully on December 2, 2024.

Margaret was born on December 20, 1932 in Wainwright, Alberta, to Frank and Adeline Wright.  She was the oldest of four children.

Left to mourn her loss are her daughter Heather, son Kevin (Mary-Anne) and granddaughters, Hannah and Olivia.  Also left to mourn are her sister-in law Mary-Kay Wright, brother-in-law Bill Sawchyn, Nat Sawchyn (Doreen), and Nick Sawchyn.  Sisters-in-law Agnes Sawchyn and Jean Sawchyn, and many nieces and nephews.

Pre-deceased by her husband of 62 years, Andrew, her sister Claire Miller (also brother-in-law Ed Miller), brother John Wright (also sister-in-law Faye Wright and nephew Laurel Wright) and brother Dale Wright.

Also pre-deceased by her brother-in-law Steve Sawchyn, brother-in-law Mike Sawchyn (and niece Patricia Sawchyn), her sister-in-law Kay Tchorzewski (and brother-in-law Frank Tchorzewski), and sister-in-law Swannie Sawchyn.

Margaret spent her childhood on the family farm near Landis, Saskatchewan.

On Saturday mornings, she would take the train to Biggar for piano lessons.  In the winter, that meant waking up early with temperatures as low as -40 degrees, to hook-up the horses just to get to the train. Margaret completed her Grade Ten Royal Conservatory of Music training with First Class Honours. She played the piano beautifully.

Margaret completed her high schooling at the Convent school in Leipzig, Saskatchewan. She went on to attend Teacher’s College in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.  In college, Margaret sang in the choir and she was always humming the melodies of hymns as she went about her daily activities.  Margaret also enjoyed a summer art class at Emma Lake, Saskatchewan, where she practiced her painting and sketching. 

After graduating from college she then taught grades one, two and three in the small-town schools that dotted the prairies, in Evesham, Cando, Glaslyn and Canwood.  A highlight of her time as a teacher was teaching the Phillips triplets, a story and photo that was shared in the local newspaper.

While Margaret was teaching at the school in Glaslyn, she was rooming and boarding at a little house in town. It was at that time she met her husband-to-be, Andrew.

After Margaret transferred from Glaslyn to Canwood school, Andrew would drive up every two weeks in his blue truck with the white diamond painted on the side, to visit Margaret. In the meantime, between visits, they would exchange letters.  

Margaret and Andrew married on August 4,1961 and they moved to their farm near Glaslyn to begin their life together. 

Margaret was also involved with the Glaslyn Community Library committee and she helped establish the public library in the basement of the Glaslyn Community Hall.  She served on the library board and contributed many volunteer hours.  She always enjoyed reading, and said that if you were ever bored, “just pick up a book!” 

Margaret instilled in her family a deep love of learning, and she and Andrew prepared their children to go out into the world.  She led by example and always tried to encourage her children and grandchildren to work hard, to persevere and to follow their dreams. 

In 2003, Margaret and Andrew decided to retire to St. Catharines, Ontario to be near their grandchildren.  This was a big move from rural Saskatchewan, but the winters were milder and they loved the local orchards and fresh fruits. She enjoyed a full and busy retirement as a full-time grandma.  She shared many birthday celebrations and family events, countless Christmas concerts, piano and dance recitals, and enjoyed being part of her grandchildren’s lives.

In the last few years of her life, Margaret’s memories faded and her ability to speak was taken by Alzheimer’s Disease. Despite this, she remained stoic and peaceful and was a steady and calming influence for her family to her final days.  We will always carry her love in our hearts.

Many thanks and much appreciation to the staff at Garden City Manor in St. Catharines, for their loving care and attention given to Margaret over the last three years. You are all angels amongst us.

Cremation has taken place. A private family interment will take place at a later date at Victoria Lawn Cemetery in St. Catharines.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Alzheimer Society of Canada or March of Dimes Canada.