Lola Marguerite ‘Marg’ Peetoom
January 22, 1930 – November 08, 2020
Lola Marguerite ‘Marg’ Peetoom
January 22, 1930 – November 8, 2020
Lola Marguerite Peetoom (née Hiltz), 90, of Dartmouth passed away peacefully
on Sunday, November 8, 2020. She was the loving and industrious mother of
three, and grandmother of seven.
Marguerite was born in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, a city which she retained a
lifelong love for. She met Dirk in 1953 when he was newly emigrated to Canada
from Holland to join the Armed Forces as a bandsman. Dirk was billeted with
Marguerite’s family in Dartmouth and the rest is history.
Dirk & Marguerite’s first date was a trip to Sullivan’s Pond to go ice skating.
Marguerite insisted, having read the Netherlands-set children’s novel of Hans
Brinker, or ‘The Silver Skates’ when she was younger and thinking Dirk, like
Hans, would have an inherent ability for the ice.
Turns out, Dirk didn’t know the first thing about skating, and had to hold onto
Marguerite’s hand the entire time. “And I’ve been holding it ever since,” he would
often say at the end of that story.
Dirk and Marguerite were married on November 27, 1954 and together built a
beautiful life, full of love and family in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, where they raised
their two sons, Karl and Michael, and daughter, Nolda.
Marguerite had a passion and interest in people. For years she worked as a
saleswoman, often going home to home selling Avon, Electrolux and World Book
Encyclopedias. Her children and grandchildren can remember always having the
latest Electrolux at hand and those huge sets of reference books lining the
shelves of the den.
Music, knowledge, trivia, and games were always a part of life in the Peetoom
household. Marguerite was also an award-winning bowler, and always up for a
game of cards (which she almost always seemed to win). Her hospitality was
also legendary and, being an excellent baker, if you popped in for a visit you’d
often be met with delicious sweet aromas from the kitchen, a cup of coffee and a
fresh sweet.
Her positive, fun-loving, and indomitable spirit was apparent to all those who
knew her. She survived polio as a teen, a brain tumour in her fifties, and also
raised three very energetic and adventurous children. Never one to give time to
self-pity or a bad attitude, she was always up and moving on to the next thing, a
lesson she passed on to her kids and grandkids.
Often her energetic house-cleaning was accompanied by singing, whether
church hymns or a classic tune. Both Marg and Dirk shared a love of music
which they instilled in all three of their children.
Dirk and Marg enjoyed their long golden years together, always keeping active,
wintering in Florida and filling their time with camping trips all across North
America in their trusty VW Westphalia. Their garden was filled with a wide
assortment of vegetables and flowers; Marguerite was known for turning some of
them into jams, pickles, and other preserves which family members eagerly
received as gifts. She documented everything the family did and always had a
camera in hand at family gatherings or special events to snap a few photos, or
make a little video.
Marg was a devoted grandmother, spending lots of time reading to her
grandchildren (she retained a lifelong love of children’s literature), taking them by
the hand for walks around Shubie to ‘go feed the duckies,’ and preparing them
the best snacks. A life-long crafter and avid knitter, Marg’s speedy knitting
needles were always clicking away producing warm snuggly sweaters, hats, mitts
and afghans to curl up in.
As her kids and grandkids grew up and moved away, she’d stay in touch via
phone conversations, email, and dates to play cards, always asking them how it
was going. In her later years she enjoyed looking through everyone’s pictures on
her computer and iPad, and singing while playing hymns on the piano in the
living room, and of course going for walks with Dirk.
Marguerite was deeply beloved by all her family whom have wonderful warm
memories to treasure. We wish her a peaceful rest.
She leaves behind her sons Karl (Colette), Michael (Nathalie), and daughter
Nolda (Dave); grandchildren: Kai, Mel, Etienne, Miranda, Alexandra, Megan, and
Cameron. She is predeceased by her husband, Dirk K. Peetoom, sister Verna,
and brother Fred.
A celebration of Marguerite and Dirk’s life will take place once COVID restrictions
are lifted and the family can be together. Her resting place will be at Mount
Hermon Cemetery on Victoria Road, just around the corner from Dirk and Marg’s
first home.
Donations in memory of Marguerite can be made to Christ Church in Dartmouth
January 22 1930 November 08 2020
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Lola Marguerite ‘Marg’ Peetoom January 22 1930 November 08 2020..
Décès pour la Ville: Dartmouth, Province: Nova Scotia