Margo Jean FRIES

Margo Jean Fries

August 12, 1947, Kentville, Nova Scotia - July 23, 2015, Saskatoon, SK

With a breathtaking aurora borealis above Saskatoon, during the early morning of July 23, 2015, Margo ended her four-plus year long struggle with ovarian cancer to go home to her Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. The loving arms, sweet whispers, and tender kisses of her only son, Christopher, comforted Margo as she fell into peaceful, final rest. Margo was born in Kentville, Nova Scotia and moved to Fort San, in the beautiful Qu'Appelle Valley of Saskatchewan as a toddler with her mother, Isabella. She was fond of describing herself as a "true prairie girl". Later, she moved to Regina, with her mother, where she attended Campbell Collegiate. In April of 1968 she married her high school sweetheart and lifelong friend, Wally, with whom she gave birth to and raised their only child, Christopher. During her time in Regina, Margo worked at the Regina Public Library, became active in provincial politics, and went on to work with SGI. In the late eighties she moved to Saskatoon to pursue her dream of becoming a successful small business owner. With great pride and diligence she opened her Merle Norman Cosmetics studio where she enjoyed helping women realize their beauty and self-confidence. Many of her clients became cherished friends. In Saskatoon she met and fell in love with her special friend, David. In 2006 Margo shuttered her business and began semi-retirement filled with volunteering and vacationing. Margo shared a home with her mother, Isabella Feit (deceased in 2014) whom she struggled bravely to care for, by herself, through Isabella's old age and failing health, despite her own ongoing battle with cancer and enduring round after round of chemotherapy. Margo drew strength, support, and friendship from her brave sisters in the Saskatoon Ovarian Cancer Support Group. Margo was a deeply spiritual person who enjoyed travelling and day-tripping with David, with whom she shared many adventures and good times. She was a tender, loving, and supportive mother to her son, Christopher, whom she frequently visited, first in Calgary and later in Winnipeg. Feisty, combative, and deeply passionate, she was an honest and true friend to many. The loss of Margo's warm and generous spirit bereaves many, including: her son Christopher and daughter-in-law Rayanne Fries; her special friend David Sorochuk; her brother Kenneth (Donna) McNeil; her lifelong friend Wally Fries; her nephew Kenneth (Carol) McNeil, Jr.; her aunt Donna (Ron) Harvey; and her cousin Carla (Dave) Edwards and numerous other friends and family. Her family is especially grateful to the Saskatoon Ovarian Cancer Support Group led by Helen Ferris, the many friends who visited her during her long hospital stays, the compassionate and caring staff of St. Paul's Hospital, Palliative Care Unit (providing the only effective healing she received during her arduous experience with Saskatchewan's sick care system); and Geralynne, Holly, and the rest of Margo's home care assistants. Mom often said, "Don't give me flowers when I'm gone, give them to me while I can enjoy them". In lieu of flowers, her family asks you to donate to Teen Challenge Saskatchewan in honour of this wonderful lady's memory (Box 21111, Saskatoon, SK S7H 5N9). Margo's Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 28, 2015 at Windsor Chapel (704 Windsor St) with Pastor Ron Bestvater, Lutheran Hospital Chaplain, officiating. Arrangements in care of John Schachtel - MOURNING GLORY FUNERAL SERVICES (306-978-5200) www.mourningglory.ca.