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MARGARET MATHESON
MARGARET MATHESON
Obituary
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MARGARET MATHESON Obituary
August 12, 1928 - August 14, 2013
The family wishes to announce the passing of Peggy, age 85, who died from complications during cardiac surgery.
She was predeceased by her parents Russell and Grace, mother-in-law Eva May, brother Bob, and her husband Douglas. She is survived by her children (Barbara, Jane, Douglas, Donald and Nancy), their partners, many grandchildren with their families, and an alarming number of great grandchildren.
Tracing her lineage to the Highlands of Scotland she was imbued at an early age with the sensibilities and traditions of this culture.
Born in Edmonton, she first attended MacKay Avenue School, then later Oliver and Victoria Composite High School. Her first undergraduate degree was a practical one in Household Economics. During this time she met and married her beloved Spitfire pilot. Together they raised their brood at St George's and Cooking Lake. They taught and demonstrated the values of an independent mind, a social conscience, a loyal heart, to be mirthful at our own folly and to feel joy in nature's beauty. Peggy exposed us to the wonders of literature and language but maintained that only music could articulate the divine.
She displayed a keen intellect and a fearsome command of the English language. This led to two further degrees and continued studies in musicology to the end of her days. She was an accomplished and published writer.
She counted her friendships (some of over 80 years duration) as rich gifts. Her family were her precious jewels, each sharing with their own lustre and hue. In things that mattered she felt she was richer than royalty, and we her family and friends had the privilege of briefly touching an incomparable treasure.
A rare soul has joined the celestial choir, circling the heavens with her beloved Douglas.
Memorial service will be held at Robertson-Wesley United Church at 1:00p.m., Thursday, August 22, 2013.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
33 Entries
Cheryl (Matheson) Swan
September 7, 2013
I was so saddened to hear of Aunty Peg's passing. Much love and many blessings to all of the Matheson Clan.
August 25, 2013
i WISH TO SEND MY DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO ALL OF THE MATHESON CLAN. I AM DEEPLY PERSONALLY SADDENED BY LEARNING THAT PEG HAS GONE TO HER ULTIMATE REWARD. i HAVE BEEN PRIVILEDGED TO BE FRIEND WITH THE FAMILY SINCE COMING TO EDMONTON - WITH DOUG THROUGH THE SCOUT MOVEMENT AND PEG THROUGH ROBERTSON-WESLEY AND RICHARD EATON CHOIRS,AND THE FAMILY THROUGH MANY SOCIAL GATHERINGS IN THEIR HOME. PEG WAS AN OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTOR IN EVERYTHING ON WHICH SHE WAS INVOLVED. i PRAY THAT THE PEACE AND COMFORT WHICH COMES FROM ABOVE WILL COMFORT AND SUSTAIN YOU THROUGH THESE DAYS AND THE YEARS AHEAD. I AM SURE THAT MANY WILL SHARE YOUR LOSS. GOD BE WITH YOU! MAY SHE REST IN PEACE ! SHE WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN.
DON MILNE
Norma & Paul McElhone
August 25, 2013
Dear Doug & Kathy,
Deepest sympathy & our condolences to you & your family.
May your treasured memories comfort you at this time.
deirdre eeson
August 23, 2013
Jane, Sarah, Andrea, Lisa and your families,
I was greatly saddened to read of the passing of Peg. She was one of the most interesting and interested people whom I was honoured to know in my professional life. I am sure that she will be sorely missed.
With love from Deirdre and family.
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Bob Breckenridge
August 22, 2013
There are people in my life I feel blessed to have known and Peg was certainly one of them. I feel lucky to have known her and we will miss her every day forward. We shared a love for "The Wind in the Willows" and she always referred to me as "Toad of Toad Hall" which is the truth and I enjoyed our moments.
My condolences to her family but you were so lucky to share your lives with Doug and Peg.
Brian Sorokin
August 22, 2013
Dear Doug and Kathy: So very sorry for your loss no doubt Mom and Dad are flying free above us all. Wishing you a long life
Beth Cluff
August 22, 2013
To the Matheson Family,
Peg's friendship was truly a treasure. In her own quiet way, she made each guest in her home feel like part of the family.
My thoughts are with each one of you today as you gather together to celebrate her life.
With love from,
Beth
Ryan & Marie Duggan
August 22, 2013
Jane, we send our deepest condolences to you and your family in this trying time. Our thoughts are with you.
Steve Segal
August 21, 2013
Dear Barb, Jane, Doug, Don and Nancy. Sue and I wish you all our heartfelt sympathy and best wishes during this time.
Fern Esteves
August 21, 2013
To the Matheson children and their families, my most sincere condolences on the loss of your Mother. I am grateful to have had the pleasure of knowing such a wonderful and caring lady. Rest in peace dear Mrs. Matheson.
Ilonka Wormsbecker, instructor
August 21, 2013
To the family, I am so very sorry for the loss of Peg. She was a wonderful lady. She attended my fitness class at The Westend Seniors Activity Center. She was always upbeat and caring. I will miss her.
August 21, 2013
Peg was a very special lady. I consider us very lucky to have known her. She was a gem.She always had a smile and a good word for everyone. We will miss her very much.
Albert & Gail de Vos
Tom Packer
August 21, 2013
Deepest sympathy and condolences to the Matheson family. Know that we have you in our hearts in this sorrowful time.
Tom & Lisbeth
August 21, 2013
I had the great fortune of meeting Peg through the U of A Mixed Chorus. She was a strong supporter of all things musical, and had an honest way of including you in her circle of friends. She will be greatly missed by the Chorus Alumni and all her friends. May Angels sing to thee, Peg! Our sympathies and sorrow are sent to her large and extended family. Kim Lang (Mixed Chorus '73 and Mixed Chorus Alumni Association)
Cynthia K.
August 21, 2013
Nancy & Bob:
Sincere condolences on the passing of your mother.
Ann Matheson & family
August 20, 2013
We will miss Aunty Peg. I as a very young bride marrying into the formidable Matheson clan, was welcomed with open and loving arms. For the next 40 years, those arms became a safe and loving harbour through the birth of three children and the loss of a son. She was the connection for us when we moved our family to Ontario, keeping us abreast of her own growing family and their activities.
A busy lady with many interests, keeping home and hearth together, Peg was a role model for many of us. We are richer as a family for having her love in our lives.Shine brightly sweet Peg, we love you.
Bruce Wheatcroft William Hutton
August 20, 2013
One of the finest choristers I ever had, in the best sense of that word 'chorister.' She held my feet to the fire on many occasions but was always, always fair. Through Peg's determination, many aspects of the music program at R-W saw not only the light of day but grew into a part of the rich tradition that Bill and I were so privileged to be a part of for so many years. The Festival of Lessons and Carols was Peg's doing, and do it right she did. It was her gift for writing that was so cherished by so many.
On an autumn visit to Montreal, shortly after Bill and I had left the safety of what we had known in Edmonton, Peg and I strolled slowly along Sherbrooke Street where the church sign with my name on it stood. "I'm so proud of you," she said, and I responded, "I'm so grateful for you."
Someone we once knew said this about the death of a cherished friend: "When you come to the edge of all the light you have known and are about to step off into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing that one of two things will happen; there will be something firm to stand on or you will be taught to fly." May your spirit and that of your beloved Doug continue to soar into the peace of eternity. Bruce & Bill, The Abbey, Glen Nevis, ON.
Ron Schmiemann
August 20, 2013
On behalf of all former members of 418 City of Edmonton Squadron may I express our sympathies and condolences to the Matheson family.
In his position as the Honorary Wing Commander of the Squadron, Doug would often be accompanied by Margaret (as we military fellows would address her). But we fondly remember Peg's graces and interest in our customs and traditions and her outstanding hospitality at Cooking Lake.
In your honor we salute you …. Per Ardu Ad Astra (through adversity to the stars).
418 Squadron Association
Marg McIntyre
August 20, 2013
I'm so very, very sorry to learn about Peg's passing. She was a life-long friend of our family, especially Mom, with whom she shared the same birthday and who she called her 'Bosom Pal'. I came to know Peg a little better over the past few years and learnt first-hand what a loving, kind and generous person she was. I feel truly blessed having known her. My sincere and deepest sympathies to your family.
Peg flying back from camp at Red Rock via Otter August 2, 2013 with a smile!!!!
Judy Gaal
August 20, 2013
I'll never forget the time in the "young'uns" dorm at Red Rock when Peg, with Sister Mabel, came to give us hugs and tuck us in for the night. What a wonderful memory!!!
Shirley Campbell-Pearse
August 20, 2013
Peg was a lovely, kind, interest-in-others woman whom I met shortly after I began work as Executive Secretary at Robertson-Wesley United Church in 1980. Over the many years of my employment and now as a member of R-W, I've found Peg easy to know, humble, despite her obvious intellect and many life-gifts, and very much a family woman. At her husband's funeral I realized what a delightful couple they had been. I was shocked at her sudden death, and will miss her lovely smile and encouraging words. Sincere empathy to her extended family.
August 20, 2013
Aug.20/13
"Into each life,some rain must fall."We all know that--and we also know that sunshine follows the rain.Having Peg as a friend has showered me with much sunshine,and blessed my life over many years.What a privilege it has been!I sorrow along with you as we bid her farewell.Sincerely, Bill Skelton
FRED von Veh
August 20, 2013
WITH MUCH LOVE -- IT WAS AN HONOUR AND PRIVILEDGE TO KNOW YOU - 'AMEN BROTHER'
liz horcica
August 20, 2013
Peg was a warm friendly hostess no matter where you visited her- at the lake or her beautiful home. Her first offer after greeting you was an offer of tea. Our family always felt so welcome and comfortable in her company. She was a lovely, interesting lady.
Marnie
August 20, 2013
My sincere sympathies to all your Family. I so enjoyed seeing your Mother at "Rockhaven" at different Camps. A lovely lady, so genuine and kind to everyone. You will have treasured memories of your Mom.
Marnie (Skelton) Stanley
Nancy Saha
August 20, 2013
Our thoughts and prayers are with you as you celebrate a greatly lived life and mourn the loss.
Nancy (nee Grantham) & Shandip Saha
Jon Rossall
August 20, 2013
Doug, Shauna and I send our deepest sympathies for your loss. Your Mom was obviously a talented and lovely woman, taken before her time. As an aside, that was one of the most striking obituaries I've read (and I've been reading too many lately).
Doug Farnell
August 20, 2013
I shall fondly remember all of the great times we shared on "the crescent". Please accept my condolences on the passing of Mrs. M.
August 20, 2013
To the Family and Friends of Peg Matheson (AKA 'MCM' and 'the Old Professor' to fellow Richard Eaton Singers),
I share your grief for the loss of our beautiful Peg. She was my dear friend and partner in so many projects.
Kind, thoughtful and generous, high principled, hard working and honest, Peg also loved a practical joke, a good party and dressing up.
Talented, sensitive, knowledgeable, scholarly, Peg was a fine writer and a tireless researcher. She was genuinely interested in people and the stories of their lives. Because she was a good listener, and motherly and comfortable to be with, Peg was a confidante to many people. She brought to life many personal stories in the scores of Meet a Member feature columns that she wrote for Upbeat, the newsletter of the Richard Eaton Singers.
Peg was a stickler for details and something of a packrat, especially of paper. She saved articles on many subjects that caught her attention. These personal traits were vital to Peg as a researcher and writer and newsletter editor. Peg's biography of Richard S. Eaton, entitled A passion for Music, her two booklets that record the history of the Richard Eaton Singers, the hundreds of program notes and CD liner notes and choir newsletter articles that Peg produced for RES and other choirs, represent countless, unpaid hours that Peg spent over many years meticulously collecting, sorting and sifting facts and support material, before she began the creative work of writing and editing at which she excelled. Peg Matheson's body of work demonstrates her selfless spirit of service to the community.
Peg Matheson was fiercely loyal. She held close and treasured all the things she loved — family, friends, music and books, the great outdoors.
Peg will always be an inspiration to me. She was a font of facts, fun and wisdom. She embodied the principles of caring and sharing.
I will miss you greatly, Dear Friend.
Cathy Breckenridge, Shuniah, Ontario
August 20, 2013
Dear Matheson Family, I was so shocked to see the notice in today's Edmonton Journal. I was in Peg's Household Economics class at University and we had a few lovely reunions at her home. I will miss the contact. Sheila McLaggan
August 20, 2013
The "Girls" at Shambles Gift Shoppe send their love & condolences to the family.
David Hopkyns
August 20, 2013
We are so sorry to hear of your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you Doug and your family at this time.
The Hopkyns
Nancy Francis
August 20, 2013
The world will miss Peg's beautiful spirit! My Mother, Marion Francis, sang with her both at Robertson United and the Richard Eaton Singers. Mom always spoke about her with such fondness and admiration. She was a special person to me as well for her innate goodness and no nonsense intellect. Blessings to her family.
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