Margaret Kathleen Kontak

The death occurred on October 27, 2009 of Margaret Kathleen Kontak (Peggy Power) only child of James H. Power QC and Margaret (O'Brien) Power and step-daughter of Hazel (Milligan) Power. Following the death of her mother shortly after her birth on May 7, 1930 in New Glasgow, she was raised during her early years at the home of her paternal grandparents John J. Power QC and Charlotte H. Power of Halifax. Until her college years Halifax was always her second home. Peggy was a graduate of Saint Francis Xavier University (BA 1950; BED 1952; MED 1978). She attended the University of London Institute of Education for graduate work (A.I.E. 1975/76) and the University of Toronto (O.I.S.E.). Before her marriage she taught at The Priory School in Montreal, was a family case worker for the Children's Aid Society of Pictou County, and was on the staff of the Extension Department, St. F. X. University in radio education. In 1954, she married Walter J. Kontak a member of the faculty of St. Francis Xavier University and from then until 1989 they made their home and raised their family in Antigonish. In 1962, she resumed her career in education at Presentation College Barbados W.I. when her husband was on sabbatical leave. In 1963, the Antigonish School Board initiated a class for special needs students and Peggy was the first teacher. She started the School Board's first reading program in 1966. She retired in 1986. In 1989, she and Walter retired to Halifax and spent the winter months in Florida. In 1995 what was intended as a Christmas holiday in Tucson culminated in a three-year stay. In 1999, they moved to Denver. Peggy is survived by her husband of 55 years, Walter Joseph Kontak, 10 children and 16 grandchildren: Daniel, Sudbury ON, (Jason and Julia); Michael, Halifax NS; Martha (Cameron Adams), Porters Lake NS (John, Kathleen and Donald); Margot (Morley Forsyth) Toronto ON (Rhys, Sigourney and Genevieve); Martia (David Clayton) Denver CO (Anna); John (Maria) Washington DC; Walter, Antigonish NS; Kathryn (Guy Desmarais) Sudbury ON (Francois, Guy, Jacques and Jean Noel); Peter (Jan) Halifax NS (Sean); Wanda (Ryan Deschamps) Dartmouth NS (Adrien and Rene) and step-brother Sean Power (Virginia), Strathroy ON; cousin John J. O'Brien, Halifax NS (June and Sheilagh Ann) and special friends Heather, Les, Steven and Claire, Halifax NS. She was predeceased by an infant daughter, Mary. It was Peggy's wish that her brain tissue be donated to the Rocky Mountain Multiple Sclerosis Center Tissue Bank for medical research. At the family's request there will be no visitation. Cremation has taken place under the direction of Horan and McConaty. A funeral mass will be celebrated in Margaret Kontak's memory on October 31, at Mother of God, 475 Logan Street, Denver at 10.00am. A reception will follow at Park Place 111 Emerson Street. The family invites friends to join them at the 9:00am mass November 9th at St. Ninian's Cathedral, Antigonish. A reception will follow the mass. The interment will take place following the reception. In lieu of flowers, donations maybe made to the Multiple Sclerosis Society or your charity of choice. Special thanks and gratitude are extended to The Denver Hospice, Jessica Nieto, Margaret Finley and the residents and staff of Park Place. Arrangements have been entrusted to MacIsaac Funeral Home. On line condolences may be conveyed through them at www.macisaacs.ca.