Margaret Arseneau (née Carnill)

It is with heavy hearts we announce the passing of Margaret Arseneau (née Carnill), aged 91, on 19 March 2024. She was a long- time resident of Edmonton and Victoria, the latter at Hopkins Place, Rose Bank Gardens, Sidney All Care, and The Summit.

She will be greatly missed by children Barbara (Danial, with Shawna, Ben, Noah, and Abby), Donald, Norman (Richard), Lorraine (Tony), and stepdaughter Beverly (Owen). Grandchildren Nick, Jennifer, Cassie (Jason), Daniel (Jess), Spencer, and Jeremy. And great grandchildren Vanessa, Thor, Noen, Alice, Evelyn, and Magnus.

An only child, she gained a sister with Sylvia, who was evacuated to Canada as a child from wartime Britain. Despite her asthma, she spent wonderful times with the Perry family on their Delburne farm, and with Joy when she was in Edmonton. Her first job was at a candy counter. Her boss told her to eat as much as she liked – she did, but in a few days, she couldn’t stand it anymore!

With first husband Angus (Smith) and family, she loved summers at Seba Beach and there became an expert at cleaning fish caught by her family; she loved to brag about that skill! One thing that she did not like was being teased by Marcel Marceau at a banquet; how many shades of red did she turn?

She reveled in life at home, celebrating family events, shoveling snow in Edmonton’s winters, as well as camper vacations along the west coast in the summers. Widowed at the age of 39, she bravely faced the future and mentored her four children, while in her spare time enjoying bingo as ‘Smith and Jones,’ with her friend Diane. Margaret subsequently escaped an abusive relationship in Edmonton and moved to Victoria, where she met her love, Gil (Arseneau) and gained even more loving family members. They built a home and a happy life. Upon Gil’s retirement, they motor-homed across Canada and the US.

Margaret loved puttering in her garden, slaving over family feasts, puzzling over crosswords and, later, volunteering at Victoria’s Seniors Centre. Everyone spoke of her unsinkable spirit and zest for life. To overcome her heartbreak at Gil’s death, she became a world-traveler, spending happy times in China, Hawaii, Italy, Thailand, the UK, and on countless cruises. Margaret’s lifelong love of animals was lavished on her parents’ clever canary, Blackie, Icky, Ringo, Snowball, and Tammy, among many others. She is now with many relatives and friends who passed earlier, including her parents, Angus and Gil, and granddaughter Barbara.

In later years she suffered results from an Acoustic Neuroma, and any donations would be appreciated to the Acoustic Neuroma Association.

As per her wishes there will be a private Celebration of Life at a future date.

Finally, as a family, we would like to extend special thanks to the staff at Sidney All Care and The Summit, who took such good care of her when she needed it the most. Words cannot express how distraught we are over Margaret’s passing.

Condolences may be offered to the family below.

McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com