Obituary of Margaret Hatch
It is with great sadness we announce the passing of a loving sister, devoted auntie and a special friend. Margaret Hatch of Forestburg, Alberta passed away on November 5th, 2014 at the age of 86 years. She is survived by her loving sister, Jean Kumar, and her numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Margaret lead a very full life with education and travel as her roots. After leaving home at 17 years of age, Margaret attended Normal School where she obtained her Teacher's Certificate, and proceeded to work at several schools in the Winnipeg area. Her interest in painting had her enroll in a six week program at the Banff School of Fine Arts. She worked with the Calgary Public School Board from 1954 to 1972 and in 1961 she had a unique opportunity to teach Canadian soldiers' children in Germany for two years. Upon her return she continued teaching and obtained her Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Alberta in 1965. From 1966 to 1972 she specialized in working with visually impaired students and families. Margaret became a consultant with Alberta Education for the visually impaired working throughout the province from 1972-1984. During that time she obtained a Masters of Education degree at San Francisco State University. After receiving Special Educator of the Year in 1983, Margaret retired from her government position in 1984 to become a private consultant province-wide. In 1994 she was awarded the first Margaret Hatch Award of Excellence for her work with the visually impaired, an award now presented annually in Alberta.
In addition to her numerous awards and admirable intelligence, Margaret loved to travel. It nurtured her soul, and she enriched lives and sparked love for travel in others through all her stories. Among many other adventures, some of Margaret's favorites included attending an Indian Sun Dance while still illegal in Canada, travelling on a paddle-wheel boat up the Arrowhead Lakes in British Columbia, motorcycling during the summer of '53 through England, Scotland, Ireland, and France, spending Christmas in Turtle Bay, Oahu, para-sailing in Mexico, crossing the Berlin Wall to visit East Germany, spending the night in Inverness Castle in Inverness Scotland, and living in Germany from 1961-1963. Margaret, above all other things, had a passion for the mountains. Many days were spent hiking, biking, horseback riding, skiing and camping in the Rockies, and it is there she will return in spirit, now that her soul is free to travel again.
Our Auntie Margie was a very strong lady who enriched lives and had a tremendous impact on family and friends. In keeping with Margaret's wishes, there will be no service. A Celebration of Life will be held on November 22nd, 2014 from 2:00-4:00 p.m. at the Big Knife Villa in Forestburg, Alberta. Memorial donations may be made to the Killam General Hospital or Alberta Society for the Visually Impaired - 12010 Jasper Avenue, Edmonton, AB T5K 0P3.
