Margaret Ann (Smith) Power
October 27, 1944 – December 17, 2023
Margaret Ann Power, 79, of Thunder Bay passed away peacefully at home with her family by her side on December 17 following a courageous battle with cancer. She was called home by her loving husband Donald, with whom she was reunited after more than 30 years apart.
The funeral service celebrating Margaret’s incredible and wonderful life will be held at St. Agnes Church on Friday, December 22nd at 2 p.m.
Margaret was born in St. John’s, Nfld on October 27, 1944, the 8th of 15 children born to Marie and James Smith. She grew up in a loving family and spent her early years surrounded by her siblings, attending church and focusing on her studies. She was a serious student who loved school and graduated at the top of her class. While scholarships were available, she entered the convent in service to God. Even though her faith remained strong, her calling changed, and she left the convent and became a teacher.
She met Donald Power in 1967. They fell in love deeply before being married 6 weeks later. They lived in Gander, Nfld and welcomed Donna as their first child. Shortly after Donna’s arrival, the family moved to Toronto for Don to complete his PHD. Michael was born while Don continued his studies and Margaret supported him in his pursuit of education. In 1973, a move to Thunder Bay resulted from Don being offered a job at Lakehead University, Krista and John arrived to complete the family and Margaret was then able to return to her studies.
While being a mother and a wife, she attended university and took correspondence courses to finish her teaching degree and her Masters. She began teaching in the early 1980’s with Lakehead Public Schools before being offered a full-time teaching position with Thunder Bay Catholic at St. Ignatius High School. She loved teaching. It was in her blood. A born teacher, she was a tough but respected and many credit her with their ability to write an essay and fondly remember her bringing literature alive in the classroom.
Margaret had many interests aside from her work and homelife. She was incredibly creative and loved to knit, sew and in later years became a talented quilter and basket weaver. She also loved to read and enjoyed animated discussions about literature with friends and with her book club after she retired. She enjoyed watching basketball and cheering for her Toronto Raptors but her favorite sports teams were the ones on which her grandchildren played. Margaret also loved to play scrabble and attacked the daily Wordle with gumption to share with her siblings via text.
Margaret’s grandchildren were the light of her life. They brought her joy in many ways, and she treasured the opportunity to cheer them on in sports, attend school excursions, recitals and performances. She also loved to help them write essays or discuss the books they were reading. She was thrilled to watch them grow and follow their chosen paths. She was revered as “the world’s best Nanny” who could always find a way to make her grandchildren laugh.
Following retirement, Margaret loved to travel, taking trips with her dear friends Alice and Sharon and jaunts around Canada and the US with John to cheer at his marathons or Iron Man competitions. But her favourite place to visit was her cottage at Shebandowan and it filled her cup each summer; fishing, gardening, kayaking and competing to reach her daily step count of 10,000 steps or sewing up a storm in the sunroom.
Margaret was never not busy. She volunteered with many organizations, including the HAAO, TBRHSC, 55 Plus, St. John’s Ambulance Pet Therapy program with her faithful companion Laia, Thunder Bay Public Library, Eucharistic Minister at St. Dominic’s and the Shebandowan Campers Assoc. She loved to be of service to her community. She also loved to learn, taking bridge lessons, basket weaving classes, yoga and tai chi. There was nothing she wouldn’t try. Even in the pandemic, she found purpose, sewing masks, entertaining her family on zoom calls and making quilts to be donated to patients at St. Joesph’s Care Group.
Margaret is survived by her children, Donna Prenger (Tony), Michael Power (Joanna), Krista Power (Jamie Daboka) John Power (Shannan Cryer) and her precious grandchildren, Maggie, Sarah, Zach, Jack, Grace, Carson and Owen as well as her siblings, Ida, Jim, Dolly, Bill, Bob, Judy, Mary, Sheila, Charlie, Marion and Jeanie and numerous nieces and nephews, and other family and friends.
Margaret is predeceased by her husband, Donald, in 1993, her parents, Marie and James and siblings, Kay, Gerard and Eddy.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be given to Thunder Bay Regional Cancer Centre Foundation, St. John Ambulance Pet Therapy Program or Regional Food Distribution Centre.
The Power family wishes to thank Dr. Chan, Dr. Simpson, Dr. Ward, Dr. Anthes, her favourite nurse Shane from Paramed, the nurses and clerks from the Cancer Centre, especially Susan and Kayla, and her support team south of the border, Dr. Senger, Dr. Thompson, Dr. Ashbury, Gerry Hogue, Dr. Reddy, Dr. Bunn and Matt Phillips.
Those wishing to watch the service online can view the live feed on Facebook. www.facebook.com/stagnesrc.
