Margarete Jean Mohs Holland passed away peacefully in her sleep on February 27, 2014, one week after her ninety-first birthday. She will be greatly missed by her children: Donna and her husband Lou, Ralph and his wife Candy, and Laura and her husband Oisin. As well, she leaves behind her sisters and brother-in law: Iris Basnett, Rosalyn Schilberg, Anita (Lloyd) McAffrey, and Roland (Juanita) Holland and her many nieces, nephews, and their children. Margarete was predeceased by beloved husband, Wilber; her son; David and her siblings: Vernon, Lyle, and John Mohs, Mildred Samson, Barbara Broen, Evelyn Olstead, and Edith Lentz.
Margarete was born February 20, 1923 in Edmonton, Alberta. During her school years in Holden, Camrose, and Edmonton, she became a lifelong fan of the Edmonton Grads basketball team. After graduating high school, Margarete attended teacher training at Normal School where she met her best friend Jean Rylance Stewart. During WWII, Marg and Jean joined the Royal Canadian Air Force, serving their country while stationed in Calgary, Alberta and Trenton, Ontario. After her discharge, Margarete taught school in rural Alberta, most notably at the Sunnyvale School in Leduc where her pupils Rosalyn, Anita and Roland Holland carried notes between “Miss Mohs” and their big brother, Wilber during their courtship
Margarete and Wilber married on August 30, 1947. They lived a happy and mobile life together for almost 60 years. In that time, they started an apple orchard in Kelowna, B.C., travelled to and lived overseas in Ceylon (Sri Lanka) and Chile, and built their dream house in Fredericton, NB. No matter where she found herself, Margarete continued to impart her love of books, reading, and learning as a teacher, a Brownie and Girl Guide leader, and mother of four children. After returning to Edmonton in 1968, Marg and Wil retired to Abbotsford, B.C. in 1988 where Margarete grew miniature roses and was active in the Old Age Pensioners organization. After Wil’s death in 2006, Margarete returned once again to Edmonton, where she battled Alzheimer’s disease.
Margarete will be remembered for her amazing baking, green thumb, devotion to family and friends, her Albertan legacy of hard-work, determination, and love and her beautiful smile.
The family wishes to express their gratitude to the wonderful staff at Capital Care Lynwood for the support, care, and kindness shown to Margarete.
A Memorial Service for Margarete will be held on Wednesday, March 12, 2013 at 1:00 p.m. at Leduc First Baptist Church, RR2 Station Main, Leduc, AB T9E 2X2. .
As an expression of sympathy, memorial contributions may be made in Margarete’s name to the Alzheimer’s Society.