Margaret MacDonald Wood

Margaret Wood

Margaret MacDonald Wood passed away Tuesday, November 19, 2024 just one day before her ninety-third birthday. Born in Regina to Christina (Chrissy Douglas) and Simon Smith, Margaret and older brother Jim were raised by their mum after their dad’s untimely death. When Christina remarried, Margaret welcomed stepdad Alec Dickie and her stepsister Jean. The move to the Dickie household on Albert Street also facilitated Margaret’s meeting the neighbouring Wood family, particularly Ralph, the eldest of the family’s second set of identical twins. After Margaret completed her secretarial training at Balfour Collegiate and began working for the Provincial Government, she and Ralph married and began a true partnership and love story that would last over 70 years. While they saved to purchase their first house, Margaret helped Ralph study for his Master Plumber designation and the couple began planning to invest in rental properties to help build a secure financial foundation. Margaret left her civil service career to launch her most important joint venture with Ralph, their family. Lisa, Ailsa and Ross were born in quick succession, and later Kathryn and James completed the family circle. Margaret and Ralph also became business owners, taking over Blair Bros. where Ralph had started his career as a plumber. It was a full and busy life, with countless happy times enjoyed at the family cottage on Katepwa Lake, and the family home on Green Meadow Road in Regina. Margaret and Ralph also took their family on summer holidays to Alberta, BC, several American states and the not-to-be missed annual Wood Family reunions. Life became even richer as their children began to expand the family with spouses and beloved grandchildren. Margaret also realized a life-long dream of visiting her parents’ homeland, touring Scotland with Ralph and Lisa in 2003, visiting her cousins in Paisley, Largs, Irvine and Inverness. She and Ralph also enjoyed the fellowship at First Presbyterian Church, where Margaret took great pride in the church’s Scottish roots. 

In recent years, Margaret was increasingly challenged by the onset of dementia and diminishing mobility, but kept her feisty determination, warm and delighted smile and flashes of quirky humor. Visits with family and friends always lifted her spirits. Ralph’s loving care and attention enabled her to live at home until the last couple of months when the staff and residents at Dove House welcomed her. Margaret passed away at the Palliative Care unit of the Pasqua Hospital after a brief illness, comforted by her family at her side.  

Margaret was predeceased by her parents and stepfather, brother, stepsister as well as thirty-one brothers and sisters-in-law. She is survived by husband Ralph; daughter Lisa; daughter Ailsa (Lawrence Swanson) and grandsons Erik (Maguire and great-granddaughter Briar), Scott and Ian; son Ross (Lichelle) and granddaughters Natalie (Leo), Rebecca (Noah), Katie (Perry), Alison and Samantha; daughter Kathryn (Jerome Arnal) and granddaughter and grandson Jennifer and Devin; and son James (Stephanie) and grandson Joshua. Margaret is also survived by sisters-in-law Patti Wood and Margaret Wood, and over sixty nieces and nephews and their partners and offspring.

A funeral service for Margaret is set for 2 pm Monday, November 25 at First Presbyterian Church, 2170 Albert Street, Regina. The service will be live-streamed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ii2-zZAGy9w. Margaret’s family extends sincere thanks to the staff of the Adult Day Program at Wascana Rehabilitation Centre and Emily Ireton for your support and friendship to Margaret over the past 18 months, and many thanks to the staff of Dove House for your embrace of Mom. Our sincere appreciation also to Rev. Amanda Currie and the staff of units 4D, 3D and the Palliative Care Unit at Pasqua Hospital for your tender care of Mom and your support of Dad and our family over the past week. Anyone wishing to make a donation in memory of Margaret, please help a charity of your choice.