Margaret Koteles
February 4, 1928 – June 19, 2013
Margaret passed away peacefully at the South Okanagan General Hospital on June 19, 2013 at the age of 85. Margaret was the best wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother in the world.
Margaret was predeceased by her parents, Steve and Esti Barat, brother, Paul, sisters’, Emma and Pauline and son, Jack.
Margaret is survived by her husband, John of 61 years, daughters, Mary Wardlaw, Betty (Kelly) Brown, grandchildren, Terry Taylor, Diana (Ed) Warkentin, Andrew (Shannon) Koteles, Cheryl (Steve) Bell, Michael Taylor, John (Jen) Koteles, Kate Brown, great grandchildren, Dakota Bearman, Brian Warkentin, Kael and Jordyn Koteles, Kayla and Ethan Koteles, and James and Rachel Bell.
Margaret was born in Gelenes, Hungary. Margaret came to Canada by ship in 1949 with her two sisters, Emma and Pauline, landing in Halifax, Nova Scotia. From there they travelled by train to Kipling, Saskatchewan, to meet their father, Steve, who had immigrated to Canada with his brother in the late 1920s early 1930s. She lived for two years in Kipling working on her father’s homestead. She met John on the ship coming from Hungary. John proposed and they were married in Kipling, Saskatchewan on October 18, 1951. John brought his new bride to Oliver and they took up residence on Road 2 where they started their family. Mary arrived in 1952, Jack in 1953 and Betty in 1955. They bought their own orchard on Road 5 and have lived there ever since. Margaret was a devoted at home mother to her 3 children teaching them to read, write and spell in English, she helped in all of their education and other life skills that she learned growing up. As Margaret became a grandmother, she helped each and every one of her children, before the arrival of her grandchildren, on arrival of her grandchildren and after. As the grandchildren grew she had “grandma’s day care”, which was held after school, when sick or just whenever. She was always available to help. Margaret dropped everything to take care of them as needed. The grandchildren would sit at her big kitchen table and do their homework before their parents picked them up or be outside playing in the orchard. The grandchildren spent many of their summer holidays at the farm. Then the great grandchildren started arriving she enjoyed watching them and helping them whenever she could.
Mom, grandma and great-grandma, you will be missed more than you know by your husband, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. We love you.
A memorial service will be held at 3:00 P.M. Saturday June 22, 2013 at the Christ the King Catholic Church lower hall. Condolences and tributes may be directed to the family by visiting www.nunes-pottinger.com Arrangements entrusted to Nunes-Pottinger Funeral Service & Crematorium, Oliver & Osoyoos.