On Wednesday March 1st in Montreal, our lovely, kind Mum Margaret Ann McCardell Smith Blair, passed away peacefully surrounded by her children, after having lived a life filled with love of people, pets, teaching, art, music, and nature. Daughter of the late Robert and Marjorie McCardell, sister of the late Dr. Nora McCardell of Fonthill, ON. Friend and former wife of the late Eric Thomas Smith of Ormstown, QC, and of the late Colonel Dr. Robert Blair of Lynn, MA. Deeply loved mother of Robert Thomas Smith (Lorraine Toscano) of Dollard des Ormeaux, QC and of Ellen Margaret Smith (Dan Leger) of Pittsburgh, PA. Dearest Nana of Megan Marjorie Smith and Patrick Joseph Smith. A graduate of the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, Sir George Williams University (Concordia) and McGill (1G Education). "Mrs. Smith" taught for the PSBGM at Herbert Symonds, Willingdon and Westmount Park Schools from 1972 to 1992. She loved her teaching, and her students. She was known as being a creative, enthusiastic, well-organized teacher who never raised her voice and inspired a love of reading, learning and feelings of self-worth for hundreds of young people. Margaret also guided many McGill student teachers and passed along her gifts to the next generation of teachers. Her kindness and consideration extended to many long friendships, neighbors and everyone she met. Always seeing the best in each person she encountered, Margaret was easy to love. A strong, determined, independent and gracious lady. Her innate compassion for animals included feeding every stray cat in the neighborhood, and helping to nurture enormous, happy birds and squirrels throughout Dorval. Always with a beautiful smile, a dash of lipstick and a flair for fashion, Margaret loved meeting new people. Over the past six years her health care professionals at the Royal Victoria Hospital also loved her and worked devotedly to help her. Special thanks from our family to Drs. Kris Jardon and Lucie Gilbert, and their team of superb health care professionals in the Gyne-Oncology Department, including Enza Ambrosio (Nurse Pivot Extraordinaire!), Drs. Sturgeon and Zeng, and Nurses Christa Irvine, Silvy Duarte; Nurses Anne Andree Coursol of the CLSC, Gloria Timmins & Louise Godbout of NOVA West Island. Even after difficult times, Margaret would smile at us and say, "Thank you for a lovely day." Our world is forever changed by her loss, and we are so grateful for her courage, humour, sweetness, intelligence and kindness. Thank you Mum, for our lovely life with you. Cremation and graveside service private. A celebration of Margaret's life will happen in the spring for friends and family. Her words of wisdom: "People do not like or love other people for what they can do, but for how they treat others. Remember who you are and how you think about other people and animals. How you look after those who need your help is what really counts in life." Donations in Margaret's memory to NOVA West Island 447 Boul. Beaconsfield, Beaconsfield QC H9W 4C2 www.novawi.org.