A longtime pianist, organist and choir director recently decided it was time to retire after filling churches and other buildings in Mountain View County with music for 68 years.
Margaret Reid – known to friends and family as Peggy – has dedicated countless hours to play at thousands of church services, weddings and funerals in communities like Cremona, Carstairs, Didsbury and Olds since 1947.
She is 93 years old and decided to retire after performing at her final church service last summer.
Peggy moved to the Cremona area in 1947 with her husband Gordon and they raised five children on their family farm near the village.
Gordon's mother was the pianist for the Cremona United Church at the time and asked Peggy to help her, which she was happy to do because she had a teaching and music degree from Oberlin College.
Not long after that, she formed a glee club, which soon became the choir in the church that sang for Easter and Christmas services, as well as other special occasions.
She directed the choir until 2009 and said it was a hard thing to give up, especially because no one took on the job.
“It's sad to see nobody pick it up. I tried to get people to become interested and I thought I had a few people going, but it didn't happen. They didn't have the drive,” Peggy told the Gazette during an interview at the Didsbury hospital.
In 1967, a two manual, full pedal Hallman electric reed organ was installed at the Cremona United Church, which she played for several years. The organ has since been refurbished.
In 1993, a two manual full pedal Allen 25 organ was installed at the newly built Cremona Congregational Church, which she also played for several years.
She started playing piano when she was nine years old and started playing the organ while attending university.
During her time as the church organist she also started a Christmas Eve candlelight service in Cremona and played for several Remembrance Day services.
When asked how she balanced raising five kids with her musical commitments, she said, “I just did it.”
She said her husband would watch the kids while she was conducting choir practices some evenings and while she would play at church every Sunday.
“I got them all ready for church, but he looked after them after I got to the door,” she said with a laugh.
Her husband passed away two years ago.
Peggy has also enjoyed cooking, gardening, farming, attending music concerts and spending time with her family over the years.
She was a member of the Royal Canadian College of Organists as well as the Calgary Society of Organists. She also organized an annual musical evening for 35 years.
She said it was always a rewarding feeling when she would finish a performance.
“You realized what you worked for,” she said.
“What I did really love was when the church was full of people, the choir was at the front and I could belt the organ out,” she said.
Her son Robert said her dedication to music has been an inspiration.
“Her life revolves around her family, and followed closely by her passion to play and organize the music to inspire everyone,” said Robert.
“Besides raising a family and farming, as a volunteer position for the last 68 years, her week was planned around the Sunday and special services. And her year, weeks and days were planned or changed to accommodate weddings and funerals,” he added.
“Her love and passion to play and provide the music has helped to define her 93 years so far and definitely enriched ours.”
"What I did really love was when the church was full of people, the choir was at the front and I could belt the organ out."Peggy Reid,retired organist
