Margaret Blommaert passed away peacefully on May 27, 2014 at the Yorkton Regional Health Centre with her family by her side. Margaret was born in 1919, on Christmas day, in the little home her father, Frank, had built in Regina after coming back from the war. She remembers crawling through the backyard chicken coop and jumping in the steam blasts from locomotives at the nearby train yard where Frank worked as a carpenter. She was the second eldest among five children, and took over much of the homemaking after her mother, Emily, suddenly passed away when Marg was 13 years old and her youngest brother, Bob, was only 4. She kept house again for 5 years after completing her grade 12. Marg was an able student, skipping a couple grades and being offered a university scholarship, which she was unfortunately unable to use. Marg was baptized at age 13, and was happily involved in her church's services and social activities. Her faith and church involvement - including decades of singing in the choir and teaching Sunday school - remained central to everything about her. She was one of those rare Christians who daily spent hours praying for others and continually reaching out to those in need, whether through hospital visits, baskets of food, one of her treasured notes of encouragement, or a hand-picked bouquet from her beautiful garden. She was a genuine student of The Word. During WWII, Marg applied for work in Ottawa as a clerk in the war department. After the war, upon her return to Saskatchewan, her former Ottawa supervisor asked her to try her hand in the field of social welfare. She did so, and there began a long career which eventually led her to various supervisory positions, the last one in Yorkton.That same year, 1965, she attended a funeral and met the recently widowed Henri Blommaert. They were united in Holy Matrimony on January 17, 1970. Henri and Marg were friends to all. They were the fond and gentle centre of numerous family gatherings and amusing escapades, and many sumptuous meals were enjoyed around Marg's table, usually featuring several delicious dishes straight from the garden. Marg enjoyed recalling a long and memorable trip to their respective "old countries," Belgium and England - the latter a place Marg had twice visited in her younger years to visit family. Marg retired from social work in 1984, replacing employment with seemingly unending acts of charity and friendship, which she kept up even into her nineties. Marg was predeceased by her parents, Frank and Emily (nee Gardner) Ball; her brothers, Harry and Bob; one sister, Frances Apperly; two sisters-in-law, Stella (Harry Ball) and Dorothy (Jim Ball); and one brother-in-law, Vic Apperly. She leaves to celebrate her life her daughter Lyndy, her brother Jim Ball, her sister-in-law Janet Ball, and many cherished nieces, nephews, and friends. Funeral services were held on Friday May 31, 2014 from the First Baptist Church, Yorkton with Pastor Steve Rosluk officiating. The organist, Karen DeLong accompanied by soloist, Noreen Kriger led the congregation in the singing of a few of Marg's favourite hymns, "There Is A Green Hill Far Away", "I Stand Amazed In The Presence", and "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee". Noreen Kriger paid tribute to Marg through a special musical selection of, "I Found The Answer". Tony Hallett shared with the congregation special memories of Marg from Terry Lefebvre Prince, and Janet Ball with her daughter, Anna personally shared their heartfelt memories of Marg with the congregation. The interment of cremated remains followed the funeral service in the Yorkton City Cemetery with Marg's daughter, Lyndy serving as the urnbearer. Those friends so wishing to make a charitable contribution in memory of the Late Margaret Blommaert may do so with a contribution to the Canadian Baptist Ministries c/o First Baptist Church #35 Smith Street East Yorkton, SK. S3N 0H3. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Kopan's Funeral Service, Highway #9 North Yorkton, Saskatchewan. www.kopans.ca. 306-783-0099.
