Isabel Margaret (Forbes) Crerar

Margaret was born on the farm at Waskatenau AB, the youngest of four children. She is predeceased by her parents Christina Margaret Nicholson and Robert Forbes, and her sisters Grace MacDonald Flaska, Anne MacRae Lawrence, and brother Robert Nicholson Forbes. She is survived by her husband of 64 years, Stewart Ellis Crerar, children Katherine Crerar (Steven Knudsen, Eilidh and Soren Knudsen), and Duncan Crerar (Lana Riva Crerar, Presley Duncan Riva Crerar) as well as numerous nieces and nephews, and cousins in Nova Scotia and England.

Margaret treasured family life and remained close to her parents and siblings, spending most school vacations and many summers at Waskatenau. She became a teacher and worked at Clyde and Camrose before taking a trip to teach for a year in Leeds, England in 1955. After this trip, Margaret thought it would be fun to teach in a tourist town, Banff Alberta, and began teaching there in 1956. Like so many, she fell in love with the mountains and stayed until 2010. In 1960 she married Stewart Crerar, and they began a family in 1963 when Katherine Anne was born, followed by Robert Duncan in 1965. 

Margaret took great pride in her home, with a particular interest in cooking and sewing. She was a talented seamstress and made most of her own clothes, as well as sewing for Katherine, her mother and sister Anne. Living in Banff meant a lot of visitors, and there was nothing the couple liked better than sitting down to a delicious meal with family and friends in their cozy home.

Margaret took an active part in numerous communities in Banff, including the United Church, the Hospital Auxiliary, the Banff Seniors, the Bow Valley Naturalists, Friends of Banff Park, Adult Literacy and many more. Her talents at the piano were often requested at the church for services, weddings, and funerals.

After Stewart’s retirement from teaching in 1985, Stewart and Margaret travelled all over the world, often with friends or the Elder Hostel group. They also enjoyed their growing family when Katherine and Steven welcomed Eilidh Skye Knudsen (1993) and Knud Soren Knudsen (1996) to their family.

In 2010 they moved to the Comox Valley, where Duncan had settled with his wife Lana and their child Presley Duncan Riva (2009). 

Margaret’s eyesight had begun to deteriorate due to glaucoma before they left Banff. Recently, the blindness caused by the disease had limited Margaret’s enjoyment of and participation in daily life. She passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family, on August 20, 2024. Thank you to Dr. Jonathan Reggler, Bonnie Giovannetti and Beth Walsh for their kindness to Mom. No service is planned at this time.