MARGARET RAE MURDOCH POFF

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MARGARET RAE MURDOCH POFF After a short stay at the River view Health Centre, sadly, Margaret Rae Murdoch Poff, 96, of Winnipeg passed away peacefully on January 25, 2017 with family at her side. Margaret is predeceased by her husband, Robert Poff, in Thunder Bay Ontario in 1970, by her brothers William Finlayson (Australia 1986) and Alex Finlayson (England 1993), and sister Mary Jones (Wales 2003). Missing her in Manitoba are son Blaine and daughter-in-law Donna Poff (Winnipeg), grandchildren: Michelle Poff (Anuj Maini) (Winnipeg), Cherysse Falk (Chris) (Crystal City MB), and great-grandchildren Kailias Maini and Kenzie Falk. Daughter Roberta Dubois (Denis) resides in Airdrie, AB. Margaret was born in Glasgow, Scotland to parents Alexander and Mary Finlayson on May 5, 1920. She has enjoyed a good long life generally filled with good health and happiness. Her long life has experienced both great joys and sorrows. The amount of change she experienced in her life was striking to her. She felt privileged to have heard the first transatlantic radio broadcast from the United States to the UK in the 1920s to being able to learn to use a computer and the internet in the 2000s when she was into her 90s. With all the advancements she has witnessed over her life, she thought she had been privileged to have lived in the wonder years. Margaret completed schooling at age 15 and started her adult life working in an advertising firm in Glasgow, Scotland. In 1939 war broke out in Europe and she endured a new life of scarcity, rationing and bombing during the Second World War. She was proud to have served a war-time role in the Glasgow Police Headquarters in a unit specially created for wartime dealing with air raids. After the war ended and her siblings moved away and her responsibilities to look after them ended, she took a transatlantic voyage and relocated to Thunder Bay, ON in 1948. It was there she reconnected with and eventually married Robert Poff, a Canadian war serviceman she had met in Glasgow during the war. There they raised a family. Music has been a mainstay in Margaret's life, from being a soloist in dance bands in Scotland in the 1930s, to church choirs in Thunder Bay, ON from the 1950s, through the 70s, to performing as a soloist with the Lakehead Symphony Orchestra and on local TV in the 60s and in musical theatre productions in Thunder Bay in the 1980s. In 1989 Margaret moved from Thunder Bay to Winnipeg to be closer to her children and grandchildren. She loved life. She was an animal lover and she was proud to have been able to have lived an independent life, making her own decisions and caring for herself up until a very short time ago. The family is holding a private celebration of Margaret's life on Tuesday, January 31, 2017. The family would like to extend their appreciation to the staff of 3 West at the Riverview Health Centre for their wonderful care and for their kindness and compassion and understanding. Should friends wish to make a donation in celebration of Margaret's life please consider the River Health Centre, One Morley Street, Winnipeg, MB, R3L 2P4. Family and friends may sign a Book of Condolence at www.glenlawn.ca Glen Lawn Funeral Home 204-982-7550

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 28, 2017