Memories of Margaret Lesik
Margaret passed away peacefully and serenely, listening to Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah, surrounded by members of her family and friends. She chose to die by MAID after 14 months of suffering from 35 radiation treatments for her cancer. Margaret was 84 years old.
Margaret survives through her loving husband Michael Lesik, daughter Karin Buckshaw, son David Lesik (Sylvia), grandson Tyler (Ivana), great-grandchildren Natasha, Joey and Jace, nieces Rosanna (Gordon Elworthy & family), Frankie (Don Chant & family), Cathy (Ritchie Baceda & family), Shelly Stelmaszczuk (Tan Rambo & family), stepbrothers Kitchner Wilson (Heather & family), Bill Wilson (Suzan & family), and stepsisters Helen (Carol Holley & family), Mary (Jerry Hakze & family), as well as many friends and neighbours.
Margaret was born in Ottawa, Ontario on March 02, 1938. She graduated from Dartmouth High School in Halifax and attended UBC. She paid for her tuition, room and board by joining the Officers Training Program and spent her summers in various Air Force Training centres in Canada. Margaret was offered a permanent position with the Canadian Air Force but turned it down because she found the work undemanding. She chose teaching as her lifetime career.
Margaret took Teacher Training at UBC in 1959 and taught PE at Burnaby South High and John Oliver High School in Vancouver. She married in 1960 and had two children, Karin (1963) and David (1966). She substituted in Vancouver while raising her children.
In 1980, Margaret joined the Richmond School District and taught in a variety of elementary schools as a Learning Assistant and a Resource Teacher at the Diagnostic Learning Center at Menoah Steves. Margaret had a passion for teaching, reading, and was devoted to her students. She formed lifetime friendships with her teaching colleagues, Kathleen Champion, Chris Brodie and Don Dixon.
Margaret and Mike met 63 years ago when he came along to help move his friend’s girlfriend who had roomed with Marg. Mike was immediately attracted by the girl with the beautiful, dancing eyes, and they began dating while he attended Teacher Training at UBC. Mike was offered a teaching position at R.C. Palmer Jr. High in Richmond in June 1960, and proposed to Margaret by long-distance station-to-station speaker phone. He was timber cruising in Port Douglas, Harrison Lake, and Margaret was touring Mexico and California in an MG sports car. They decided to get married and had 6 weeks to make all the necessary arrangements. You can imagine the rumours this quick decision caused! This is when Mike learned about “LISTS”! Everyday he was handed a list of “Things to Do,” and after six weeks of doing lists, he managed to arrive at the church, exhausted, but with the mission completed! Just before the wedding took place, Margaret insisted on including the phrase ”to hear and obey until death do us part”. Mike was soon to learn that “to obey” was not meant for Marg!
Margaret was an excellent cook, who loved to entertain and be entertained. She formed lifetime friendships with the families of David & Isabelle Lincke, Walter & Cathie Shynkaryk, Ernie & Peggy Ericco, Geoff & Joan Hodgkinson, and Fred & Vikki Dametto while raising her children. Weekends were spent attending and giving dinners, playing bridge, and laughter.
Margaret was a swimmer, a former life guard and swimming instructor. You would find her at Kerrsdale or the Aquatic Centre swimming lengths at 6:00 am before going to work. In 1969 the family purchased 1 2/3 acres of water front property in Sargent’s Bay, Sechelt while living in a small, homemade tent-trailer. Summers were spent clearing the property and building the cabin out of recycled timbers from Caterline’s Cookie Factory, and doors and windows from UBC Huts and Bank of Montreal. Marg was instrumental in ensuring that the children pulled and straightened nails, with their reward for doing so at 25 cents per ice cream bucket full.
When not working, Marg enjoyed relaxing, swimming and fishing for salmon. She also loved to travel, and enjoyed Christmas holidays in Maui, Hawaii or in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico but cruising was her all-time favourite means of travel.
Margaret took great pains to maintain close relations with her father’s family and step-mother Alice Wilson, sisters Helen Holley (Carol), Mary Hakze (Jerry), brothers Kitch (Heather) and Bill (Sue), and formed wonderful friendships at their yearly family reunions that took place in Kananaskis, Texas, New Mexico, Idaho, Vancouver Island, Winnipeg and Calgary. These friendships are ongoing and treasured. Recent visits by Bill and Suzan Wilson were especially meaningful and deeply appreciated by Margaret and the family.
There were many facets to Marg’s personality, but two were most outstanding. The Margaret with the beautiful, dancing eyes was a wonderful and loving partner. She was a joy to be with, and was kind, charming, generous, thoughtful and supportive. But when those eyes assumed “The LOOK”, like Medusa’s gaze, they could freeze you in your tracks! Margaret was a strong-willed woman and the song “MY WAY” best described her when she was in that state. When that happened, no amount of reasoning would change her mind. Being a slow learner, it took me years to learn how to deal with Margaret’s “The LOOK” phase. The best offense was a hasty retreat.
"Our marriage was never boring, but an ongoing adventure as we experienced the many phases that life offered us, phases of love, joy, sadness and sorrow. We are blessed to have had Margaret in our lives for as many years as we did. She lived life gracefully and with dignity. She inspired many of us and will be truly missed. The beginning, like the end, started with love for each other and ended with “loving you forever”. What more could you ask for?
The family would like to express our gratitude and appreciation to relatives and friends for the flowers, food, visits, emails, phone call and ongoing support. We also wish to thank the Palliative care nurses Jontaya, Katie, Jessica, Ifraz, Alana, her physicians, Dr. D. Narvas (GP) and Dr. M. Chan (Oncologist), and the many homecare workers from Three Bridges and Greater Vancouver Coastal Support Services for their generosity of spirit and compassionate care they provided to Margaret at home.
Special appreciation to my son David and daughter in-law Sylvia, who both took leave from their jobs in Edmonton to devote their care, attention and love to Margaret’s, and my, welfare. Other significant relatives and friends include Phil Koester, Kathy Champion, Chris Brodie, Brenda & Bruce Beairsto, Noelle Tremblay, Don Dixon, Rosanna Elworthy, Bill & Suzan Wilson.
Margaret was a passionate supporter and donator to Union Gospel, Salvation Army and the Food Bank. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to one of these charities.
A Summit meeting will take place in Vancouver and in Sargent’s Bay, Sechelt and will be announced at a later date.