Margaret Rose Esposito

Esposito, Margaret Rose

January 21, 1942 - April 6, 2022

Margaret Esposito of Airdrie, Alberta passed away on Wednesday, April 6, 2022 at the age of 80 years after complications from a fall while doing what she loved which was walking.

Margaret was born at home on the “Sterling farm homestead” near the town of Broomhill, Manitoba. She was the eighth child of 13 born to Frank & Mildred Cooper. Growing up on a farm with 13 siblings brought lots of pranks, laughter & fun filled shenanigans that helped to shape Margaret’s unforgettable personality & boundless energy. She would be the first to wake up in the morning to let the sunshine & fresh air in and the last to go to bed at night. Her Kitchen radio was always on playing music or news. Margaret enjoyed staying on top of all the latest trends in health, politics etc. She had a passion for life and didn't want to miss anything life offered. If you asked anyone who knew her, they would describe Margaret’s personality as Feisty, a Spitfire, Spunky, Witty, Funny, Tenacious, Proud, Hard Worker, a Jokester, Energetic & so full of fun.  Most of all she was a caring loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother (GG), sister, Aunt & friend to many.

Margaret will be lovingly remembered & so missed by her three children, Anna, Rick and Marco. Daughter, Anna(Charlie) Lupo  of Schomberg, ON,; granddaughter Larissa (Stephen)  Porciello; great grandson, Christian of Nobleton, ON; grandson, Alessandro (Kristine)  Lupo and great grandchildren, Dominic & Adalina Lupo of Collingwood, ON.  Son, Rick (Irene)  Esposito of Airdrie, AB; grandson, Cody (Kaylyn) Esposito and great grandchildren, Benson, Aryha, Beckham, Rhett Esposito of Cochrane, AB; grandson, Brandon Esposito of Airdrie, AB. Son, Marco (Holly)  Esposito of Lethbridge, AB; grandchildren Stephanie and Tyler Esposito of Lethbridge, AB. 

Margaret's siblings in order of birth are Eleanor, Doug, Allen, Gwen, Jackie, Ron, Stan, Margaret, Betty Ann, Robert, Keith, Sharon, Danny. Surviving siblings are Allen, Robert & Danny Cooper.

Margaret was predeceased by her husband, Mario Esposito in 2006, who was the love of her life since they met as young teenagers in Calgary about 3 yrs after Mario immigrated in 1954 from Italy to Canada with his parents, Raffaele & Adelina Esposito. Margaret helped Mario learn to speak English and assisted him in adjusting with life in Canada. Margaret also helped her father-in-law to pass his exam and get his Barber Licence so Raffaele could start his own Barber Shop Business in the Bridgeland area of Calgary. 

Margaret worked as a Nurse’s Aide at the Calgary General Hospital & Grace Hospital in Calgary.  She also worked with children at a Hospital in Toronto when they lived near St. Clair known as “Little Italy” area of Toronto, ON in the early 1960’s. In 1974 while living in Kelowna BC she worked in healthcare with seniors. They moved back to Calgary, then Airdrie, then an acreage in Beiseker, AB on the Rosebud River. Then moved back to Airdrie in 2007 to be closer to family after Mario’s passing. Her door was always open to welcome her children & grandchildren with loving arms, a big hug & of course for some good conversation, a story about the good old days, a plate of her delicious homemade meat sauce with rigatoni & herbs grown from her garden or a “Baking Powder Biscuit” out of the oven. Her “Christmas Fudge” is legendary! Many a times a joke was shared amongst us as the gift of humor was passed down from both the Esposito & the Cooper genes. An abundance of laughter always surrounded our gatherings.

Margaret & Mario were entrepreneurs owning a variety of businesses such as a taxi cab company, a special needs student transportation company, an Arcade & Pop Shop in downtown Airdrie, and finally for many years they owned & operated “Mario’s Concrete & Excavating” where Margaret was the office manager.

Margaret loved her family & they adored her right back. Young ones gravitated to her because she loved unconditionally, was accepting & had a special way of making each feel so special. She enjoyed Quotes & sayings, one was “Live and Let Live” or Does the Bay tell Eaton’s… does Eaton’s tell The Bay?” or Don’t be telling tales out of school”. She was asked often by her grandchildren to tell stories about the good old days! Played games (been known to cheat a little sometimes), sang songs, drew & coloured pictures of flowers, bunnies & cats. Margaret loved to read, walk, garden, dance, listen to music, canning Preserves like peaches, pears, cherries, drying hot chili peppers, doodling while talking on the phone, play games like Rummy, solitaire, or word puzzles in the newspaper, coffee with friends, telling stories and lots of tickle fights that made the grandchildren giggle.  Mom had the patience to pick out the perfect greeting card and writing heartfelt long letters in her beautiful cursive handwriting. She was always interested in Natural Health & Vitamins and was well read on the subject. She enjoyed traveling to Las Vegas and cruising the world with Mario. They loved the family Sunday drives & picnics to the Rocky Mountains or little out of the way small towns like Cochrane, AB where we would go for a historic MacKay’s ice cream or A&W for a Root Beer when they still had servers on roller skates who brought the order to your car window. Traveled many trips to BC, MB or ON in one of the many old cars, motorcycles and new trucks they owned throughout the years. Both appreciated nature & she knew the names of the flowers & birds. Family camping trips at 3 Valley Gap & Penticton (Skaha Lake) were a summer highlight each year.  Fresh fruit & vegetables were bought and enjoyed from roadside Fruit Stands. Mario would stop by a mountain stream and pan for gold or stop to pick Saskatoon Berries through the Prairies. Our pockets were always full of special rocks and to this day the great grandchildren have the same trait of looking for that special treasure amongst the stones. Margaret was passionate about Hockey & would travel with Mario to watch the sons & grandchildren play. She would play mini sticks with the great grandchildren….. And I tell you no mercy if she scored! Her comment would be “Suck it Up Princess! Oh! how she made us howl with laughter! Mom was a firecracker that shined bright and lit up our world with so much and laughter. Love you forever and ever.

Margaret was cherished and loved beyond measure. She has missed her sweetheart Mario for the past 16 years.  On April 6^th, 2022 Mario came to pick her up in his Red 1965 Monaco and took her to meet Jesus.  They are together now forever in each others arms. 

We would like to thank the following for their kindness, compassion and care, Calgary Foothills Hospital, Nurse Liliana Vargas of “Lily’s Happy Feet”, Hawthorne, formerly Points West Senior Living in Cochrane, AB, Crissinda and Jocelyn at Alternative Funeral Services, Airdrie, AB and all of the family and friends for their support and love.

A Celebration of Life will take place this summer (details to be determined). In lieu of flowers a donation can be made to Alzheimer’s Society, #306, 10430 – 61 Avenue NW, Edmonton, AB, T6H 2J3 or to the Children’s Hospital, 2 Oki Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T3B 6A8.

Matthew 5:13-16

Salt and Light

Matthew 28:20

I am with you always even to the end of the age