Obituary of Margaret Viola Giggs

Margaret Giggs was born in Unity, Saskatchewan to Hugh and Annabella Bingham on March 4, 1931. She was the second oldest of a family of four. Margaret grew up in the Senlac District and took all her schooling in Senlac. She graduated from nursing school in Humboldt in 1952. She worked for a short time in Humboldt and Macklin. Mom, always, talked about wanting to go back nursing. In 1953, she married Robert "Bob" William Giggs and together they raised their family of three Robert Reginald "Reg", Calvin John and Patricia Elaine. They lived in Macklin a short while, then moved to Dad's grandfather's place, living with Reginald Giggs in the North End District before finally moving to their newly purchased farm (Fred Larkins place) north of Senlac in 1957. In 1964-65, they built their new farm home, living in the basement a short while, before moving upstairs in 1966. They took on the challenge of designing a new yard site and Mom spent countless hours of planting and caring of evergreens for the shelterbelt and the planting and caring of flowers, fruit trees, ornamental trees, hedges and shrubs. She was very proud of her yard and took on the challenge of keeping it beautified. She used the simplest of things in her creation, in particular, using Dad's used cultivator shovels as a border for the U-shaped driveway and digging in old tractor tires for her shrubs that all still exist today. Mom enjoyed many years gardening, looking after the yard and cursing at the need of carefully pulling, bagging and burning many tons of wild portulaca that grew in the yard over the years. Finally, after several years, she got ahead of it. She was often seen riding her lawn mower tractor cutting grass, pulling her wagon around with pails of water for the trees and plants and pulling her 20 gallon sprayer around, spraying weeds and standing on a 5 to 6 foot step ladder, with nozzle in hand, spraying her tall evergreens for bugs. In her later years, she took on the challenge of carting her oxygen tank as part of her load. Mom, we are not sure how you did it all. Mom enjoyed knitting, crocheting, sewing, playing cards, doing puzzles and was always anxious to watch curling and game shows on TV. Quite often, Dad and Mom would sit together and watch some world series baseball games. Some of her cherished memories include: Waiting for and watching all the birds and animals that came and stopped at the yard for a visit, especially watching the young owls playing on the lawn. All the years, taking the children, including some nieces and nephews, to Gravel Lake for swimming lessons. The visits from neighbours, parents, her siblings and spouses, nieces and nephews, grandchildren, great grandchildren and other numerous relatives, especially from the old country. All the meals taken to the field at harvest time. Celebrating the 50th anniversary with her husband. Having her grandchildren stay at the farm, playing outdoor and indoor activities, especially playing cards (some controversial, whenever Uncle Reg got to play). The many senior card games and other functions at Senlac and surrounding areas. The many trips with grandson, Dwayne, picking her up and taking her to Lloydminster to visit with her great grandchildren. In 2002, being picked up by some of her colleagues at the farm and driving to Watrous for a weekend to attend the 50th anniversary of her graduating nursing class of 1952. In 2007, taking a trip to Ireland with her two sisters, meeting relatives and seeing the birthplace and the wedding church of her parents. Mom was hesitant in getting on the plane for the first time and flying over the ocean. The experienced sisters gave her some advice and told her getting on the plane was nothing, but not to look out the window in flight. In the end, she was thankful she went. After Dad passed away in 2004, Mom still remained on the farm. As the farm was her home, the family finally convinced her to take up residence at the Countryside Manor in Macklin in October, 2013. There, she met old friends and made many new friends who all made her feel comfortable and special in her new surroundings. For a short while, she would move back out to the farm in the summer months. During her stay at the Manor, when family members could not help her with a task (medical and hair appointments, getting groceries, etc.), there was always someone that would take the time to take her. Many thanks for that. She made a special bond with a lovely lady living across the street from the Manor. It was later discovered that they had the same first name and the same birth date, with the exception of the year. Family would often pick her up and take her to the farm for day trips and the odd weekend. She was most interested in making sure the yard was being kept up and that any new portulaca growing was being carefully picked, bagged and burnt. Medical problems forced her to take up residence at Poplar Courts Nursing Home in Wilkie. Although her stay was short, she received very professional and unwavering care. This is where Mom passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family, at the age of 87 years. Mom will be forever remembered and forever missed by children, Reg (Marilyn Lodoen✝), Calvin (Dorothy) and Patricia; grandchildren, Annette Lodoen, Dwayne (Loretta) Neil, Helecia Giggs (Camron Fonnyadt) and Dalton Neil (Shanda Fraser); great grandchildren, Bentley, Nixon, Kellar and Maddox Neil; sisters, Eileen (Mike✝) Babchuk, Helen (John) Jansen and Sister-in-law, Gladys (Les✝) Bingham, as well as nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends. Mom was predeceased by her husband, Bob (2004); parents, Hugh (1971) and Annabella (1994); parents-in-law, Jack (1969) and Minnie (1985); brother, Les (1999); brother-in-laws, Fred Murrell (1988) and Mike (2004); sister-in-law, Jean Murrell (2014); daughter-in-law, Marilyn (2016) and nephew, Allen Bingham (2015). If friends desire, memorial donations are gratefully accepted at: Countryside Manor P.O. Box 585 Macklin, Saskatchewan S0L 2C0