Margaret Joan Collins (nee Brodie)

With heavy hearts we share the passing of Margaret Joan Collins on March 26th, 2026. She was just shy of her 91st birthday, still living independently in her home. Margot as she liked to be called was born on April 7th, 1935 in Dundee, Angus Scotland. Daughter of Agnes & William Brodie, and sister to Isobel.

Margot’s early childhood was spent in Brechin and at the outbreak of WWII the family moved to a farm in East Campsie, Lintrathen, Angus. She loved to bring home all sorts of creatures as pets much to her mother’s chagrin. After the war the family moved back to Forfar. She was 17 years old when she pursued nursing and attended Training School at Maryfield Hospital in Dundee. Her love of babies and helping new mothers led her to a career specializing in Maternity and Midwifery. She obtained her Midwifery Certification in 1957 and became a Registered Nurse in 1958. While nursing in Edinburgh she saw a post card of Lions Gate Bridge in Vancouver, B.C., Canada and dreamt of seeing the Pacific Ocean. She applied and was accepted into the midwifery department and special care nursery ward at Vancouver General Hospital and immigrated to Canada at 23 years of age in August 1958 and became a Canadian Citizen 10 years later.

Margot joined the YWCA to meet people and it was through a social club for YMCA and YWCA members that she met her future husband, Streb, and wed on August 21st, 1959. They welcomed three children and became Foster Care parents that led to them adopt a baby girl to complete their family of 6. They moved into their forever home in 1973 in North Vancouver, B.C. Margot nursed part-time during her children’s younger years before working full time in maternity at Lions Gate Hospital from 1973 until 1983. She transferred to the maternity ward at St. Paul’s Hospital and remained there until her retirement in 1996.

In 1997, Margot brought her 90-year-old mother from Scotland to live in Canada with her and cared for her until her passing in 1999. Afterwards, Margot had always dreamed of travelling North America with her husband in an RV but they dreamed bigger and travelled all over the world discovering many different countries creating lasting memories of their wonderful adventures. She loved living near the Pacific Ocean, learning about the Pacific Northwest Coastal history and traveling throughout B.C.

Margot had a love of classical music and enjoyed playing her piano. She loved the arts, reading, and the challenge of completing the morning crossword in the newspaper. She was proud of her garden: watching her squirrels run along the wires at the end of the garden, feeding walnuts to her stellar jays, seeing hummingbirds enjoying her flowers, and the amazing views she had of

the local mountains especially the Lions. She had an incredible knowledge of plants, learning all their Latin names and amassed an impressive collection of gardening books and magazines. She filled her yard with flowering perennials so there was always something blooming. She was most proud of her family though and always wanted to know what everyone was up to. She lived her life helping others and tried to live her best life. She will be forever missed and loved by many.

Margot was predeceased by her husband of 60 years Streb, her brother-in-law Peter, her mother and father.

She is survived by her children Brodie (Carol Ann), Wendy (Jacek), Dave (Elaine), Mary-Anne (Gord); 8 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren, her sister Isobel, as well as many other extended family members that have shared in her life throughout the years.

Our Mother’s life moto:

Not in Vain

by Emily Dickinson

If I can stop one heart

from breaking,

I shall not live in vain;

If I can ease the one life the aching,

Or cool one pain,

Or help one fainting robin

Unto his nest again,

I shall not live in vain.