MacPhail (MacQuarrie), Lois Margaret With profound sadness, the family of Lois Margaret (nee MacQuarrie) MacPhail announce the peaceful passing of their mother on the late evening of August 17, 2024. Margaret had a remarkable and professional career as a dedicated public servant, and most importantly held the honour as the devoted and cherished matriarch to her immediate family. Her life was marked by a loving commitment to her children, family members, and as a quiet devout supporter to her community, and province. In earlier years, Margaret taught school for one year to acquire more formal education. While attending Acadia University to further her studies, she played hockey, piano and enjoyed the many social connections of campus life. The diversity from rural life along with the university setting spurred her pursuit of higher education throughout her entire life. She attended Toronto Western Hospital in Ontario to complete a certification as a Canadian Registered Laboratory Technologist/Professional. After employment at the Toronto Western Hospital, she moved back to Prince Edward Island and worked at the Prince Edward Hospital and later to the provincial laboratory in Haematology. She later became the Department Head for the Immunology Department at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Her quiet, yet self-disciplined ways led to awards and expanding interests for others. Margaret's dry yet quiet sense of humor would appear when appropriate, and her demeanor led to stimulating others to develop such things as a school band, library, and in becoming a PEI Director for CSLT(CSMLS). These items combined garnered her an award as Mrs. Chatelaine Runners-Up in Canada in the 1960s and later receiving an Award of Merit from The Canadian Hard of Hearing Association while her involvement with medical laboratory technology led her to receiving the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. Her career spanned over 39 years and her personal interests included passions such as art, gardening, medical lab history, and as part of a committee ensured Hard of Hearing was resourced properly in areas such as hospitals through her volunteer work well into her senior years. She remained a member of the Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science (CSMLS) at the time of her passing. Throughout her working life she had published medical related papers, including developing tests still used today, and was well known for adhering to privacy policies in Health Care. Margaret was an elder at the Cornwall United Church, now renamed to West River Church and carried a lifelong strong and resilient faith. Margaret was a devoted mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and wife. Predeceased by her husband, Colin J MacPhail, they raised two children, Ian MacPhail (Rosalind) and Ellen MacPhail (Greg MacKay) and ensured they obtained well rounded opportunities. In her retirement years, she had a keen interest in her two grandchildren, Jenilyn DeLong (Shawn) and Ryan MacPhail (Janice) and two cherished great-grandchildren, Katelyn and Aiden MacPhail. Her stepgrandchildren of David, Mark and Carrie Howell also held a special place in her heart. Margaret was born on July 9, 1930 in Hampton, PE, as one of six children to Boyd MacQuarrie and May Monkley. She is predeceased by brothers William, Ray; and sisters, Annie and Muriel. Margaret's younger sister Sarah MacQuarrie mourns the loss of her sister, along with a large extended family of nieces and nephews, friends, and neighbours. The family sends special thanks to Norma MacLean and Queen Elizabeth Hospital. In lieu of flowers and if so desired, memorial donations can be directed to the QEH Foundation or West River Church. Private funeral by request. Arrangements entrusted to MacLean Funeral Home Swan Chapel. Online condolences may be made at: www.macleanfh.com
Lois Margaret MACPHAIL (MACQUARRIE) — Meadowbank, PEI
