It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Margaret Edna “Williams” Schweitzer, on July 12, 2020, at Hospice House in Vernon, BC; just two months shy of her 98^th birthday.

Margaret was born September 15, 1922 in Swift Current, Saskatchewan. She was the seventh child of nine children born to Thomas and Mary Williams. Her mother died when she was only two years old, so she was raised by her father and older sisters on the homestead in Pennant, Saskatchewan. Her maternal grandmother and her Aunt Sadie also played a nurturing role in her early years. The dirty thirties were difficult for the family and they all worked hard on the farm, the brothers in the fields alongside their father and the sisters managing the small, humble home that they lived in. They made the best of it, and had fond memories of local dances, where the family played various musical instruments.

Marg attended the Pennant School, graduated grade 12 in 1940 and then moved to Regina to attend Stenographer School.   At a dance in Regina she met her husband Henry “Hank” Schweitzer in 1941. They courted for a while and then married June 18, 1942 in Regina, with William Knapp and Belle Vangen as witnesses. They remained in Regina until 1943, when they headed to the west coast of British Columbia where Hank was first stationed with the army. In 1943 they lived in Port Alberni, then in Prince George, and settled in New Westminster until 1944. When Hank was shipped overseas in 1944, Marg moved back to Regina to be closer to family. After Hank was discharged, they stayed in Regina until 1947 when they returned to New Westminster. They resided there until 1960, where both sons Dale (1944) and Wayne (1949) were born.

Wanting a change of pace, they moved to Balfour, British Columbia in 1960 and started the next chapter of their lives, where they purchased the Rainbow Resort on Kootenay Lake.   They owned the resort until 1965; Marg worked hard in the service industry, while Hank worked on the ferries. Shortly after selling the resort they built their own home in Balfour, where they lived until Hank’s retirement in 1982. They moved into Nelson, staying until 1990 and travelled to Great Britain where they met some of her father’s British relatives. In retirement they also took a Caribbean cruise and bought a motorhome and did some touring. They finally settled in Vernon in 1990 for their “Golden Years” where they really enjoyed living. Margaret moved into Canterbury Court in Vernon in 2019 where she made friends very quickly. She told us that she wished she had moved in ten years prior as she enjoyed living there so much.

Marg worked at Eaton’s in New Westminster once the kids started school; she taught Boy Scouts in the kid’s earlier years and later volunteered at IODE in Vernon. Hank and she liked to dance, and they enjoyed community dances wherever they lived. They both golfed, and Marg was an avid bowler. She enjoyed doing daily crossword puzzles, playing cards and games with the family which she usually won, walking, gardening, devouring books and audio books. While she still had her eyesight she loved to sew, knit, crochet, and explore new crafts. She was an excellent cook and she enjoyed entertaining. In her later years in Vernon she was a dedicated exerciser, attending the Osteofit classes at the Halina Centre twice a week, where she made some lasting friendships. She also enjoyed socializing with her friends by going for lunches, as well as concerts at the Performing Arts Centre. During the last year of her life she delighted in all the activities at Canterbury Court where she enjoyed earning “Canterbury Bucks” for all the social activities she attended.

She was predeceased by her husband Hank in 2008 and her son Dale in 1999. She will be sadly missed by her son Wayne (Kay) of New Denver, British Columbia V0G 1S1, her oldest grandson Robert (Shelley) and great grandson Ethan of Kamloops, British Columbia, and her grandson Richard and great grandson Tyler of Edmonton, Alberta. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews who have kept in close touch with her over the years and fondly refer to her as Auntie.   She will also be missed by her half-brother William “Jack” McDougall of Burlington, Ontario, with whom she was united with in 2016 after an exhaustive genealogy search by his daughter.

Margaret lived a long, healthy life and was “sharp as a tack” until her passing. She thankfully had a short battle with Pancreatic Cancer. The family would like to thank the Nexus volunteers and the “Good Morning” callers that she was so fond of, and the staff at both the Canterbury Court and Hospice House who took good care of her in her final days. A special thank you to all her close friends in Vernon that treated her so well.

Margaret had many favourite charities. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory can be made to the North Okanagan Hospice Society, 3506-27^th Ave. Vernon BC V1T 1S4; the Vernon Jubilee Hospital Foundation, 2101 – 32nd Street, Vernon, BC V1T 5L2; the Vernon SPCA, 4800 Haney Rd, Vernon, BC V1H 1P6, or the charity of your choice.

Margaret was cremated and her ashes will be laid to rest next to Hank in the Pleasant Valley Cemetery in Vernon. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date when a gathering in person is again possible. You are invited to leave a personal message of condolence for the family online at www.pleasantvalleyfh.com

Margaret was a wonderful mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, auntie, and dear friend to many. She had a great big heart and had a way of making everyone she touched feel special with her thoughtfulness. She left many happy memories that will be cherished forever by all those who loved her dearly. May she rest in peace!