Obituary of Maggie Pringle

September 8, 1956 – Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

May 2, 2024 – Calgary, Alberta

With heavy hearts we announce the passing of Maggie Pringle, from a sudden and unexpected cardiac event on Thursday, May 2, 2024. Her family is devastated. With eternal gratitude, we celebrate and honour a life rich in unconditional love, strength, and resilience, which had a profound impact on those who crossed her path.

Maggie is survived by her husband Bill; daughters, Laura and Heather; son Scott (Hye); granddaughter Ayla; her mother Joan Cameron; mother-in-law Mary Pringle; her sister so dear to her, Catherine Gerus (Bruce); brother-in-law Bob Pringle (Patrice); sister-in-law Kathy Pringle (Michael); nieces and nephews, Brydon, Calvin, Kendal, Lochlan, Madelaine, and Gavin; grandnieces, Rowan, Sage, London, Amelia, Uma, and Ivy; aunts, Chris Cameron and Ann McCaig; and numerous cousins she was close to.

Maggie was predeceased by her brother Gordie; father Scotty Cameron; father-in-law Walter Pringle; uncles and aunts, Roger McCaig, Glenn and Beulah Stinson, Bill Cameron, and Lorne and Jenny Schnell; and cousins, Catherine Hansen and Dan Stinson.

Margaret Joan (Maggie) Cameron was born in Saskatoon, SK, on September 8, 1956, and lived in Saskatchewan for fourteen years, learning the Saskatchewan values of community, work ethic, humility, and playing. Central in her life were many family gatherings. These included her quiet and gentle father, cheerful and outgoing mother, her best friend and sister Catherine, and her very special brother Gordie with Down syndrome, joining a broad group of uncles, aunts, and cousins.

In 1970, she embraced a move to Calgary, living in a home that was always filled with joy and play. She had a special relationship with Gordie and took on the role as his patient teacher, empowering him to learn many things, including writing his name. She attended school at F. E. Osborne Junior High and Sir Winston Churchill High School. Showing her independent spirit, and inspired by the Rod Stewart song, she insisted she was now “Maggie”.

In the summer of 1972, still just 15, she met and began dating an 18-year-old school drop-out and misfit, Bill Pringle. Bill refers to Maggie as his savior. After Maggie ensured he finished high school and went to university, they were engaged to be married one month after her 19th birthday, despite having advice to wait until she was older to marry. Gordie passed away six months later. Maggie believed in God’s hand at work and was so grateful that Gordie had celebrated that day with her. In university Maggie earned an Education degree to teach art, but was an artist at heart, taking numerous painting and drawing courses, and being only a few courses from a Fine Arts degree. She minored in art history with a focus on ancient art and architecture and held a lifelong fascination with ancient Egypt and Greek mythology.

Daughters Laura and Heather were born six years later, followed by son Scott in 1985. Her profession as an artist allowed her to produce many colourful canvases and at the same time be a stay-at-home mom. She made a reluctant move to Toronto in 1988 to support Bill’s career. In Toronto she was certified as a lifeguard and swimming instructor, which filled the void from being distanced from family and friends. She returned to Calgary and the family she missed in 1995. This is where she became an avid player of badminton and tennis at the Winter Club, as well as a tennis fan. These personal pursuits never interfered with her number one priority, being a great mom. As an unreservedly supportive mother, her role emphasized being kind and helpful to others and learning about God, and otherwise supporting whatever her children wanted to do. She continually showed pride in her children. In particular, she did much to help Laura get through health issues and find wellness, despite hard times.

Maggie’s stated goal was to be surrounded by beauty. In 2001, Maggie seized an opportunity to purchase a winter home in Ko Olina, Hawaii; a sacred place to her that brought great joy and many dear friendships. In her daily ocean swims, she felt at home in the water, more than on land. She believed her spirit had been in this place before. She also felt blessed by a home in the beautiful setting of the Bar Kay Cee Ranch community, south of Bragg Creek. Maggie was also blessed with travel experiences that inspired her. Some favorites included her 50th birthday dinner in the Karnak Temple, snorkeling in the Galapágos Islands, sailing and ballooning in Turkey, and two trips to her favorite city of Vienna.

Maggie’s creativity was an empowering part of her soul, giving her a strong artistic eye that identified the beauty in everything around her, and in every person. Her favorite times were art workshops with her sister on Vancouver Island. Her artistic expression included many genres of music, teaching and playing piano, and going to the opera and rock concerts. Her voracious reading habit was part of her lifelong love of learning.

Maggie embodied the best of qualities; non-judgmental love, strength of spirit, dedication to her faith, and an unending forgiveness and love of others that could be seen in her care for her mother, husband, children, granddaughter, family, and friends. Maggie had a zest for life, presenting a multifaceted and vibrant energy well-lived. We will miss her forever. Please be extra kind to someone today for Maggie’s sake; that is what she did every day.

Friends are invited to join the family for a Celebration of Maggie’s Life at McInnis & Holloway (Park Memorial, 5008 Elbow Drive SW, Calgary, AB) on Monday, May 13, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. A reception will follow in the Hospitality Centre of the Funeral Home.

Family and friends who are unable to attend in person are invited to join Mrs. Pringle's service streamed live (see link below) on the day of the service. For those who are unable to view live, a recording of the service will be posted.

In lieu of flowers, memorial tributes may be made in Maggie’s honour directly to the Canadian Down Syndrome Society, 1001 1 St SE, Calgary, AB T2G 5G3, www.cdss.ca/donate-now.

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with Maggie’s family here.

In living memory of Margaret "Maggie" Pringle, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Park Memorial, 5008 Elbow Drive SW, Calgary, AB T2S 2L5, Telephone: 403-243-8200.

Click to Sign the Video Guest Book and Watch Maggie's Celebration of Life