Margaret McGillivary

                 For decades, Margaret, our mom,  devoted her hands and her heart to the quiet, essential work of caring for others. As a trusted foot care nurse, she brought comfort, dignity, and relief to countless people, often becoming a source of strength and support in their lives. Her gentle manner, unwavering patience, and deep compassion defined not only her career but the way she moved through the world. Mom earned the love and respect of the communities of Misipawistik, Chemawawin, Mosakahiken, Wuskwi Sipihk and Sapotawayak Cree Nations.  Mom’s last post as a nurse was for Cree Nation Tribal Health Centre Inc. in The Pas, Manitoba where she was a highly valued and respected colleague. Surrounded by the love of family, Mom passed away unexpectedly but peacefully on Sunday, March 22, 2026, at the St. Boniface Hospital, Winnipeg, Manitoba, at the age of 83 years.

Margaret McGillivary, our ‘Mom’, ‘Granny’, and ‘Great-Granny’ as she was affectionately called was the 4th of nine children born to Margaret and Malcolm McGillivary.  Mom was born August 7th, 1942 at The Pas, Manitoba.  Big Eddy was home to Mom in her early years before leaving home for residential school.  All Saints Residential School in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan and McKay Indian Residential School in Dauphin, Manitoba was where Mom spent most of her childhood and young adulthood. Mom had no bitterness about her residential school years but would often say, “It taught me survival skills, independence, adaptability, and resilience.”  In that environment, mom learned independence early. She discovered how to navigate challenges without waiting for someone else to solve them. She learned adaptability from living among many personalities, routines, and expectations. And she developed resilience - the kind that comes from finding your place in a world that asks you to grow up quickly. These lessons did not harden her; they refined her. They became gifts our mom  passed on to us - her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren with intention and love. Mom taught us that independence is not isolation, but confidence. She showed us that adaptability is a strength that allows you to move through life with grace.  Education was encouraged from Mom, she was often telling people to “Go back to school, I’m elderly and I’m still taking courses, we never stop learning!” If you knew our mother, you definitely would have been suggested to return to school.   Mom’s unwavering fierce work ethic was also a message to younger generations to “Get to work, I’m in my 80’s I’m still working!” Mom was still employed as a travelling foot care nurse up until her passing.  Graduations were her favorite events that brought her tearful pride in seeing family members achieve academic completion. Kindness and compassion were not the only attributes about our mom, she also spoke with boldness and truthfulness with the intent to build-up, correct and redirect family, friends and colleagues. 

Mom loved to travel!  She’d say, “Gas up, lets go for a drive!”  Frequent cities included Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Calgary and Vancouver where close family reside.  Her favorite city abroad was the city of London, England, where she visited 4 times with lengthy stays.  She also travelled through Scotland’s Highlands and the cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow; Wales and numerous cities throughout England.  Plans were underway for Mom to return to London for another holiday in September 2026. She loved the English etiquette, fashion, boutiques, international teas with biscuits for dunking! Her travels throughout our homeland of Canada were also a wonder for her, especially Vancouver where she had the opportunity to return and reside in 2010 – 2012.  Mom worked at Burnaby Mental Health and Addiction Centre during those years. Mom’s biggest passion was the church, she became a born again, baptized Christian in 1979. Pastor Dennis and Amanda, Riverside Bible Church were Mom’s spiritual family.   Bluegrass gospel music was a favorite, including all the country classics especially George Jones. Mom lived her life with daily prayers for family and community.  Mom’s faith in God and eagerness to share God’s Word will be missed by all who knew her. Mom’s other home passion was cooking large family feasts for visiting family members to her house.  Her bannock was the best and loved by all whether it was baking it for family or staff at Cree Nation Tribal Health Centre and especially Frank Turner Executive Director, who would especially order and enjoy her bannock! Mom loved to sew, her beadwork and moccasins were always on order locally, some of these orders were international from the United States to Australia and to the UK. Each order was personalized and unique and tailored to their liking.  Mom took the time to produce excellent beadwork and leatherwork.  

Mom was blessed with four children, Michael, Cheryl (Pierre), Brett (Melissa), Teena (Stuart).  She was united in marriage to Philip Bignell at Christ Anglican Church in The Pas Manitoba.  More blessings were added to her life with 12 grandchildren: Michelle, Brett, Chantal, Josh, Jake, Tanner, Cairo, Jared, Delaney, Dre, Nicole, Madison; 6 chapans: Elliott, Kimberly, Keisha, Amelia, Michael and Beau. She showed her love for them all with gifts and loving kindness and support when they needed it.

Margaret leaves to carry on her memory, her siblings: Sylvia Hansen, Miriam McGillivary, Harvey McGillivary, Anne McGillivary-Spence, Hilda Wetzel (Volker); numerous nieces, nephews, extended family members – you know who you are, she loved you all; Sisters in Christ: Georgina Constant, Amanda Anderson, Louise Ballantyne, Connie Young from Misipawistik;

Margaret was predeceased by her husband Philip Bignell; parents, Malcolm and Margaret McGillivary; siblings, Malcolm McGillivary Jr., Julius Gordon McGillivary, Robert McGillivary; brothers in law, John Hansen, James Spence; nephews Norman McGillivary, Pte. Martin Samuel McGillivary; nieces  Delores McGillivary, Doris Hansen, baby Ellen McKay; and numerous extended family members and relatives that have passed on. If we forgot anyone it was not intentional.

Margaret, “mom”, “granny”, may no longer walk beside us, but her influence remains—quiet, steady, and enduring.  May her memory be a blessing, and may her spirit continue to guide those who loved her. May her love, patience and kindness as a mother, granny, sister, aunt, cousin, friend, colleague and as a nurse live on in the people who loved her and were a part of her life.  Her compassion as a Foot Care nurse in her later years earned her the respect of those she served in the previously mentioned five communities, you were all a dear part of her life. Ekosi.

WAKE SERVICE

Sunday, March 29, 2026    7:00 pm

Monday, March 30, 2026

Margaret Henderson Parish Hall, Opaskwayak, MB

FUNERAL SERVICE

Tuesday, March 31, 2026    1:00 pm

Church of the Redeemer,

Opaskwayak, MB

Presider:

Pastor Dennis Anderson

Music Ministry:

Russell Cook Memorial Singers

INTERMENT

St. Michael and All Angels Cemetery, Opaskwayak, MB

RECEPTION

Margaret Henderson Parish Hall, Opaskwayak, MB

PALLBEARERS

Brett Michael Bignell, Jared Dag Bignell, Delaney McIvor, Ian McGillivary, Peter Bignell, Stanley Young,

Elliott Tanner St. Gelais

HONORARY PALLBEARERS

All her nursing colleagues, Cree Nation Tribal Health Centre Inc. staff, Riverside Bible Church parishioners,

Dave “Soupie” Campbell, Keith Campbell,

and all of Margaret’s family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the

Heart and Stroke Foundation of Manitoba,

6 Donald Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3L 0K6,

would be appreciated by Margaret’s family.