Margaret Chalack
October 5, 1929 - April 26, 2024
Sadly, we announce the passing of our beloved mother, Margaret Chalack (Grandma Marg) née Hawkwood on April 26, 2024. Mom left a legacy of love and cherished memories. She had a great sense of humor; her door was always open, and she loved to entertain visitors. Her strength and resilience were a gift to all of us.
Marg was born on October 5, 1929, in Calgary, the sixth child of Arthur and Isabel Hawkwood who had a dairy farm in what is now the communities of Arbor Lake and Hawkwood in North West Calgary. It was the start of the Great Depression and as Mom said – “my parents were so hard up they couldn’t even give me a second name”! Mom was predeceased by siblings: Agnes, Tom, Betty, Miles, Jack, and Joe—all remained in the local community except Agnes. Tom, Miles, Jack, and Joe Hawkwood were all members of the Bearspaw Lions Club.
As a young child and farm girl she rode a horse to the Bearspaw one room school and eventually moved into Calgary and boarded in order to get her high school education at Western Canada High. Mom met her husband to be, Sam Chalack through social and sporting events in the district west of Calgary. She loved music and loved to sing and play the piano. Her favorite song was “Blue Bird of Happiness”. She always had the crib board ready for a game with visitors and enjoyed bridge and golf.
Sam and Marg were married August 21, 1948.
Mom was dedicated to her loving husband, Sam who predeceased her in 1985, and her sons, David Chalack (Joanne) Don Chalack (Wendy), Tom Chalack (predeceased in 1979) and Tim Chalack (Cathy). Grandma Marg cherished her 8 grandchildren, Linsey Chalack, Caden Chalack (Theresa), Ashlee Thomas (Kevin), Jillian Hastie (Scott), Logan Chalack (predeceased in 2016), Charity Chalack, Terra Boon (Eric), Riley Chalack (Cassidy) and Kylina Chalack. She also had the opportunity to enjoy 11 great grandchildren.
Grandma Marg had a busy life running the family farm and was able to enjoy her home on the farm with her favorite pastime, sitting in her chair reading the Calgary Herald and enjoying a cup of coffee looking out the window at her beautiful yard while keeping track of “anything that moved”. She loved family gatherings and the tradition of the Hawkwood Christmas party held at the Bearspaw Lions Hall was at the top of the list.
A Celebration of Life will be held at the Foothills Alliance Church 333 Edgepark Blvd. NW Calgary on Saturday May 18th at 1 PM
In lieu of flowers donations can be made either by e-transfer ([email protected]) or a cheque mailed to: The Lion’s Club of Bearspaw, 25240 Nagway Road, Calgary AB, T3R 1A1.
To view and share photos, condolences and stories of Margaret, please visit www.choicememorial.com.
