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Margaret Dorothy Walz

November 24, 1930 – December 27, 2012

It is with great sadness that the Walz family announces the peaceful passing of their beloved mother, Margaret Walz, at Trillium Lodge on December 27, 2012.

She is survived by her five children: Rick Walz (Teena), Barb Walz (Ron), Brenda Vaughan (Gord), Randy Walz (April), and Greg Walz (Nada); grandchildren: Tanis, Jeremy, Bill Ginny, Stuart, Brittany, Kevin, Sean; great grandchildren: Mya, Elizabeth, Jonathan, Victoria, and Cypress. She had numerous loving nieces, nephews and their families all of whom have many “Auntie Marg” memories.

Marg was predeceased by her husband, Alfred (Alf), her sister, Pru Wright, and bothers, Bob, Herb, Stewart, Ronnie, and Gord McDonald. She leaves one brother to mourn: Dick McDonald (Anna) of Burns Lake, along with many dear friends.

Marg was raised in Alberta and British Columbia and come to Port Alberni with her family as a young woman. She worked at the plywood mill and had many amusing stories to tell about her job there. She met and married Alf in 1951, and started a family. They opened an Esso gas station and auto body shop in Port Alberni.

Medical concerns with one of the children later necessitated a move to the fresher air of Qualicum Beach. They bought 24 acres of raw land on Garrett Road, built a house, and raised their family. Together they developed the Belyea Road subdivision.

Marg and Alf also created a boat rental and charter boat business called “The Nomads” based in a huge old barn-like building that had once been used for roller skating dances. They ran it for years as a family business with Marg taking an active role and spending many hours working with the summer customers and guides, many who became good friends. The Sand Pebbles stands on the site today with the beach house having been converted into a restaurant.

Marg and Alf were charter members of the Qualicum Curling Club and she love going to bonspiels and putting on skits with “the girls”. Marg was also an active member of the Catholic Women’s League, The Rotary-Anns, and a faithful baseball mom. She had packed the kids along to hockey rinks when they were younger to watch Alf play and Hockey Night in Canada would always find her glued to the set. She never shared Alf’s passion for aviation but had to resign herself to it once there were five pilots in the family.

Marg spent many enjoyable days fishing with Alf in Barkley Sound, canning the catch, and playing cards with their friends at the big house at Kildonan. Bird hunting trips to Alberta in the motorhome, travelling with the same gang, were a treat. They always returned with more funny stories than fowl. She also enjoyed donning raingear to go mushroom picking with Pru in the woods and she was a dedicated bingo player. Marg lover her gladiolas and flower garden and there was always a crossword and jigsaw puzzle to work on if you visited.

She said that she played a trumpet when she was a girl although no one could ever get her to prove it. Her piano organ was a substitute and she enjoyed music till the end. She was a constant knitter of wonderful things and adored her succession of dogs and cats, treating them as well as the people in her life.

Her kitchen table was the rallying point for her five kids, the extended family, and friends. Relatives often stopped in to visit, sometimes making use of the Belyea “Campsite” on their way through Qualicum. Her hospitality and good eats were legendary. She could preserve, can, or cook anything. Marg had many talents and much love for the people in her life. They, in turn, loved her for her sense of humour and good nature.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date and her ashes, along with Alf’s, will be laid to rest at the Qualicum Beach Cemetery in a private ceremony.

The family would like to especially thank the staff at Trillium Lodge for the compassion and care given to Marg during her last years with them. She was very happy during her stay there, making new friends and enjoying the activities and music. In lieu of lowers, donations may be made to the SPCA, a cause dear to Marg’s heart.

“Now twilight lets her curtain down and pins it with a star.”

To send a condolence to the family please visit www.yatesfuneral.ca

YATES FUNERAL SERVICE & CREMATORIUM (250-248-5859) in care of arrangements.



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