Obituary of Margaret Anne Wilby

Margaret Anne Wilby passed away peacefully on September 2, 2020. She was the youngest daughter of the late A. Emerson Wilby, Q.C. and Adele Wilby of Fredericton. Margie is survived by her son, Richard Pirie (Niki), her daughter, Adele Johnson (David) and four beloved grandchildren: AJ and Bella Pirie and Ellis and Otis Johnson. She was predeceased by her youngest son, James (Jim-Bob) Pirie, and by her husband, Richard Pirie. She is also survived by two sisters: Elizabeth "Betty" Harvey (Jim) of Fredericton, and Catherine "Cathy" Aikenhead (Ian) of Vancouver. Her brother, Emerson "Jack" predeceased her in 2015. Marg was born and raised in Fredericton and lived most of her life in this city, until 2016 when she moved to Miramichi to be with her son and his family. She attended St. Dunstan’s School (and church), Fredericton High School, and St. Thomas University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Education. She had many careers during her working years, but her dream job was as a court stenographer for the Justice Department. Marg was a devoted mother whose focus was always on doing her best for her children. She had a natural affinity for teenagers and her house was a welcoming place for her children’s friends. Those bonds continued long after the teenage years. She would always donate her time and energy to charitable causes such as the Kidney Foundation and Breast Cancer. Throughout her life, Marg was an avid bridge player, usually with her sister Betty as her partner. For many years, she helped organize the St. Dunstan’s CWL Marathon Bridge. When she moved to Miramichi, she joined the bridge club there and immediately bonded with the other members. As her health deteriorated, these wonderful people of Miramichi provided an outstanding level of support and encouragement. Their kindness and empathy will never be forgotten. The family would also like to express thanks and appreciation for the exceptional medical care that Marg received while she was a patient at the Georges Dumont Hospital in Moncton. There will be a visitation at McAdam’s Funeral Home on Friday, September 4, 2020 from 7:00 - 9:00 pm. Funeral Staff will be on hand to assist in social distancing protocols. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Saturday, September 5, 2020 from St. Dunstan’s Catholic Church at 10:00 am with Father Bill Brennan as Celebrant. There will be limited attendance in accordance to the restrictions in place due to Covid-19. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Canadian Diabetic Association or a charity of the donor’s choosing would be appreciated by the family.