September 28, 1922 – June 29, 2020
Margaret (Peggy) Winslow Reid (nee Maier) was born September 28, 1922 at Woodbury, New Jersey, USA to John and Hetty Maier (nee Winslow). Peggy was the eldest of four children, predeceased by her infant brother, John; leaving her with her two sisters, Mary (Richard) Herd, and Jane (George) Smith.
Peggy graduated Woodbury High School in 1940 and went on to earn her Bachelor of Music Education from Oberlin Conservatory of Music at Oberlin College in the spring of 1946. She majored in choral, organ and orchestral, choosing the string bass as her preferred instrument.
To celebrate her graduation, in the summer of 1946, Peggy came west to Alberta to visit her first cousin, Catherine, who had recently married Vair Reid of Cremona, Alberta. Naturally Peggy was introduced to the Reid family which included Vair’s first cousin Gordon. A short three weeks later Peggy went back home to Woodbury with an engagement ring on her finger! Gordon and Peggy were married on June 21, 1947 at Woodbury, N.J.. Peggy and Gordon packed what would fit in the Chev car, including the string bass that protruded between them in the front seat, and they travelled west to the farm near Cremona. They spent the next six months living with Gordon’s parents, Boulter and Ethel, in the old farmhouse which was later moved to Cremona, where it still stands. The cow herd was mostly sold, and the 2 houses were built where Peggy and Gordon lived together happily for the next 66 years and raised their 5 children: John (Sandra), Richard (Kathie), Robert, Nancy (Mark) Sagal, and Mark (Jette).
The early years were hard on the farm for the city girl Peggy; riding the binder cutting snowed down crops, as well as other farm chores but she was always eager to work. Peggy soon involved herself in music. In 1948 Peggy organized a glee club that brought together the singing talent of the community. The glee club soon became the choir in the Cremona United Church that sang for Easter and Christmas and other special occasions. She also hooked up with the local dance band to provide the beat with her string bass. Peggy was the music and choir director of the United Church and then the Congregational Church from 1947 until 2015, and also organized the yearly community talent night until she retired due to physical limitations. She was an active member of the Royal Canadian College of Organists, the Cremona W.A., the United Church and the Cremona Congregational Church. She was also active with many community activities including taking on the role as assistant high school basketball coach in her younger years. Peggy became grandmother to 14 grandchildren, and great grandmother to 36 great grandchildren at the time of her passing. They brought her so much happiness and the grandchildren and great grandchildren experienced the lovely soft spirit of Nana’s character.
Peggy’s resolute determination to make the best of life carried her through life’s ebb and flow, especially the last years of declining physical ability after Gordon’s passing on April 18, 2014. She remained in the loving center of the family surrounded with the safety and comfort of her home until January 11, 2020. She was predeceased by her sisters Mary(Richard) Herd, on January 20, 2013 and Jane(George) Smith, on December 24, 2019, as well as her son in-law Robert Froechlich in 2004. Peggy is survived by all her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. What a blessing; Praise the Lord!
Peggy passed peacefully in Calgary on June 29, 2020, surrounded by family. She walked into the loving arms of Jesus and to the glorious reunion with Gordon and all those dear family and friends who have gone before her.
Peggy’s family, home, farm and community were her life for 97 years; always caring, committed, concerned, and very interested in the daily operations of family and farm until her last day. She always had the need to be involved, to contribute and help where and as best she could.
Mom was laid to rest at the Cremona Cemetery. She will be dearly missed, never forgotten, and lovingly remembered forever.
If friends so desire, memorial donations may be made in Peggy’s honor directly to Samaritan’s Purse. https://www.canadahelps.org/en/donate/. Messages of condolence may be left for the family www.myalternatives.ca.
