Mary Margaret Griffiths

Mary Margaret Griffiths passed away in Calgary, at the age of 71, on February 12, 2026, surrounded by her family, assisted by MAID. Margaret is survived by her children, Sarah Giovannone (Colin Travis) and Aaron Giovannone (Naomi Lewis), her beloved cat Vincent, and many dear friends including Tricia Murphy-Boychuck and Stella D’Aoust Grimm. She is predeceased by her stillborn son, Paul; her parents, Valeria and Graham Griffiths; her best friend, Helen Volante; and her soulmate, Lynn Bird.

Margaret was born at the St. Catharines General Hospital on August 2, 1954. She graduated from Denis Morris High School in 1972 and married into the Giovannone family in 1974. For almost twenty years Margaret helped run the family home-renovation business while raising her two children. Even after her divorce in 1992, she maintained close relationships with the extended Italian family, all of whom loved her dearly.

Margaret reinvented herself at forty and attended Niagara College, in Welland, where she earned a social work degree. It was there that she met her soulmate and life partner for the next twenty years, Lynn Bird. Margaret went on to complete her masters’ degree at Niagara University in New York State. She thrived in her second career as a social worker, which perfectly fit her innate drive to help people in matters practical, psychological, and emotional. She started out working at the New Port addiction treatment centre in Port Colborne and worked her way up to manager at St. Catharines’ women’s shelter, Women’s Place. Margaret spent the last two decades of her career, until her retirement in 2023, working at Contact Niagara. Her co-workers became a second family to her, and they, along with the work she did alongside them, brought her much joy and fulfillment.

Margaret had many hobbies through the years – she loved swimming, travelling, tending the flower gardens at Sarah’s house, volunteering at Hospice Niagara, and leading grief workshops. She never missed an opportunity to listen and support others – whether friends, family, servers in restaurants, or strangers on the bench beside her at Montebello Park. No one could resist confiding in Margaret, and she treasured every confidence she received.

Margaret was diagnosed with MS in her mid-forties. Even with mobility challenges and pain, she handled everything with grace and never complained. Margaret was diagnosed with cancer in 2020. After her retirement, and as the cancer progressed, Margaret reinvented herself again in February 2024 and moved from her lifelong home of St. Catharines to a retirement residence in Calgary, to be closer to Aaron and his wife, Naomi. She enjoyed her last couple of years at Chateau Renoir, where she made many friends, especially Mary and Nan, and learned the life story of every Uber driver in Calgary. Even in her last days, she had a way of making people feel seen and cared for.

Margaret’s cremains will be buried at the Lakeview Cemetery in Thorold. There will be a memorial party honouring Margaret’s life at Club Capri, 36 Cleveland St., Thorold on Saturday, April 18 from 1-4pm. All who knew and loved her are welcome. Please RSVP for the party here or call/text Sarah at 905 401-9929