Northborough – Margaret L. Farley, age 86, formerly of Saskatchewan, Canada and 43 year resident of Northborough, MA died on December 26, 2019 after a long, arduous and eventually fatal journey that is Alzheimer’s Disease.
Fortunately, Margaret was able to spend her last 23 months at home which, because of the devotion of a select team of nurse and 5 aides, became a virtual haven of improved health and an environment of dignity, respect, comfort and most of all love. The Farley family will be forever grateful to Nurse Mary Ellen, and aides Emelia, Emmah, Barbara, Michelle and granddaughter Billie Lee for making it all a reality.
Margaret was born in the tiny town of Assiniboia, Saskatchewan. It was during the Depression that her parents, Douglas McAllen Ross and Ethel Ida Snellgrove, had each independently migrated West to Saskatchewan to “seek a better life.” Unfortunately, Margaret’s father died when she was 4, and her brother, 19, was killed in a military flight training accident. Nevertheless, her endless stories of simple family life in a small prairie town with harsh weather conditions (-30 degrees+110 degrees) portray a very happy and busy childhood of making friends that lasted a lifetime, and enjoying the winter sports of ice and figure skating, curling and cross country skiing.
After graduation from high school, Margaret studied 4 years at Regina General Hospital, Regina, Saskatchewan, got her RN and began her adult life. Her first jobs were in Hawaii and California where she married a young Marine Corps Officer. She loved being a military man’s wife for a year, but soon departed California as he went to work for Dow Chemical when corporate transfers were frequent. She raised 3 children in 7 states -which usually involved buying and selling homes, the challenges of new schooling and “finding a nursing job”. Eventually, they settled in Mass where Margaret finally retired at UMASS.
If we were to try to accurately capture the essence of Margaret’s life, it would be something like: “She embraced life and lived it to the fullest” or” She was strong and true to herself right to the very end.” Her daily mojo: “Full speed ahead!”.
She loved to travel overseas: New Zealand, Australia, Burma, Africa etc. plus “all the usual suspects” in Europe. She loved sports, especially the winter ones of skiing downhill, and cross country and curling. She was also a 20 year member at Pleasant Valley.
She was a devout member of The Church of The Nativity and is survived by her husband of 62 years, Ernest, daughter Kathleen, son Patrick, his wife Chris and son Jack, granddaughter Billie Lee, husband Keith and daughter Lillian, and granddaughter Hannah and daughter. She is predeceased by her son William. In Canada, she is predeceased by two brothers, and leaves sister in law Doreen and many wonderful nieces and nephews.
Most of all Margaret was proud to be an RN and welcoming to everyone! She will be sorely missed.
Family and friends are respectfully invited to attend visiting hours on Thursday, January 2, 2020 at the Chiampa Funeral Home ~ The Sumner House, 5 Church Road, On the Common, Shrewsbury Center from 4:00 – 7:00 pm. Funeral Home Service will be held on Friday, January 3rd at 11 am. Interment will be at a later date.
In Lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made in Margaret’s name to QCC Foundation, Quinsigamond Community College Foundation Inc., 670 West Boylston Street, Worcester, MA 01606