All nine ki

~. From previous page

- nine children of their own,
three being, deaf since birth.
Her last child was bara in
1963. |.

os When the children were
‘ small, Margaret and Bob

became involved in the parent

program at Jericho Hill

School, fundraising for chil-.

dren, Itwas extremely diffi-
ult for Margaret and Bob

os during the yeors of raising
their deaf children: Margaret’s .

faith has always been extreme-
Jy strong and it became her :
solace ugh those difficule

: Margaret says: “Through”
the years; Bob and I were >.
etermined to kcep all nine .
hildren on an academic level

Washington, D.C. The other
six children received their
degrees from various universi-
ties, including UBC, Harvard

~ and the University of

Toronio.

“The U.S. government
paid part of the fee for deaf
students to attend the
Gallauder University, su that
made a big difference to us,”
says Margaret. .

Tragedy struck the
McLaughlin faraily when in
1975, Bob died at the early. -
age of 61, It was an extremely
hard time for. Margaret, still
raising two boys at home.
Margaret had a suite builtin .
her home and moved her

-elderly parents in. However,
“her dad died in 1984 and

then she fost her mom just

” four years later.

It wasn’t until 1997 thar

“ys Margaret sold their home and
“moved into her present resi-

dence, a reomy condo with

SENIORS =

an open-plan living spzce, in a
friendly neighbourhood, in
the Edgemont area.

Then in 1999 sorrow
struck again. Her second son,
Jack, died of a heart attack.
He was a successful developer
in Boston, Massachusetts, and
built the Laconia Lofts, an
apartment building.

“It consists of 100 condo-
minium units, 45 of which ~
are allocated and designed for
artists with their own resi-
dent-run gallery as a venue to
showcase their work. A place
where artists can live, work,
and display their work,” says”
Margaret proudly.

Margaret's advice to other
parents is: “Put your family
first, teach your children
moral commitment. Young
people need to know the
value of family, keep them in
the family unit and pray for
your children, and let them
know they have value in your

ds went to university

eyes. Children need to grow
up knowing that.”

Margaret's days are very
busy with church work, the
Seniors’ Friendship Club, the
Catholic Women’s League,
and she sings alto in the
church chotr. Her eldest son
has multiple sclerosis so at
least once or twice a week she
goes to his home and gives
her daughter-in-law a helping
hand. Margaret enjoys com-
municating with family and:
friends by e-mail, and delights
in having any of her 14 :
grandchildren come to visit.

This remarkable lady is to
be commended for her life-
Jong devotion to her family,
her church, and her commu-
nity. : :
— Vikki Finkbeiner is a
North Vanceuver writer. If vou
know of someone wha might
make an interesting. pre offi ‘ile,
send your idea to Vikki cfa the

North Shore News.

"Stephen
‘Pharmacist

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and use descripti he words like
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