Johnson, Margaret Nimmo (Russell) - passed away March 9, 2025, at the age of 93. The daughter of Harry and Annie Gordon Russell of Pettinain, Scotland, Mum came to Canada to practice nursing in midwifery and settled in Upper Stewiacke with her husband, Terry O’Brien Johnson, who predeceased her in 2001.
Surviving Margaret are daughters, Linda, Beth (Grahame), both from Brookfield; sons, Colin, Moncton, NB; Alastair, Middle Stewiacke; Derek, Kelowna, BC; grandchildren, Kelsey, Peggy, Bailey, Ally, Teri, Anna and Dylan; great-grandchildren, Layla, Ellie-May, Beau and Sawyer.
Mum was deeply committed to serving the community through Red Cross where she received the 45-year milestone volunteer award. She also served with Upper Stewiacke Community School, Stewiacke Valley Museum, Upper Stewiacke Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary, Upper Stewiacke Manse Committee and Doctor’s Residence Committee. Mum received the Governor General’s Award for volunteer contributions and the Certificate of Recognition for contribution to community from the Province of Nova Scotia. Mum was a serious volunteer!
To know Mum was to know community. She was born with the hands of a helper and she had so much purpose and creativity it overflowed and inspired anyone willing to work alongside. In contrast to her shy demeanour, she often found herself as acting Secretary or Treasurer or some other senior role for whatever organization she was serving at the time.
Mum’s hands were rarely, if ever idle. Aside from her community workings, these creative hands were forever cooking, baking, gardening, knitting, sewing, quilting, crocheting, embroidering and her latter hobby of “hooking” (rug hooking, which we had much fun with!). She could create ANYTHING. Mum made our clothes when we five were small and she kept creating as we became adults and gave to her grandchildren. There were no bounds to what she could create. She was a talented writer and held a great appreciation for literacy and literature. Hearing her read a Robbie Burns poem complete with all the Scottish intonations was something to behold. We also mention her love of music and dancing. Mum loved classical music, and she and Dad could really kick up a storm on the dance floor.
Mum’s grandchildren were her great joy and she filled her heart with their tiny beings and musings and loved them completely and fully with sleepovers, visits, big family meals and handmade gifts.
With all this living going on, all this creating and volunteering, there was another huge aspect of Mum that really stands out in her character: her kindness, her compassion, her true generosity of spirit, her giving ways. There was always a pie, a pot of soup, biscuits, donuts, cookies on hand for someone who was ill or couldn’t get around - someone in need. She knew who they were, she came bearing gifts to their door.
As her family, we were more than well provided for … as were her friends, as was the entire community by her purpose, her creativity and her kindness
When Mum moved to Brookfield and left her life’s work in the Valley, the community of Upper Stewiacke gifted her with a key to the Village. It meant so very much to her as did her life in Upper Stewiacke.
We know that Mum will be missed by everyone with the great fortune to meet and know her.
The family would like to extend a most heartfelt thank you to the staff at Wynn Park for their care and compassion and to the VON for their assistance and home care.
There will be a service, reception, and burial to follow at the end of May.
If so desired, donations in her memory may be made to the Canadian Red Cross.
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