Margaret M. Lefebvre R.I.P.

Saying Farewell to Margaret Lefebvre
It was memorable, as would be expected of a Margaret-directed event.
Beautifully, and faithfully, carried out by her niece Andrea, great nephew Aidan, and the Walker family.
So many friends, people I had not seen for years, some I did not recognize and I am finding out there were some I missed.
Moral of the story: sit at the back of the Church and be the last to file out.
The Mass at the Ascension Church was enhanced by the presence of a number of members of the Order of St Lazarus, who entered and left in procession, and there was beautiful music, of course.
As the procession moved out at the end, we were treated to very different musical selections chosen by Margaret and played by her great nephew Aidan, including Johnny Cash and Kermit!
“Walking out of Ascension Church to the tune of the Kermit Song remains indelible”
Not sure what some of our non-Catholic colleagues thought…
The reception at the Faculty Club, where we were graciously received by the Walker ‘clan’, was well attended, although some people had to head out to other engagements right after the funeral service. There was a generous ‘light lunch’ buffet, lots of easy access seating for the mobility challenged. Wonderful, cheerful mix-and-mingle ambiance that had much in common with Margaret’s legendary Christmas parties. Many happy reunions and good stories.
What was especially fun for me was the encounters between those who had previously met only on Zoom.
Kudos and gratitude to Andrea and all involved in the planning and execution of the day’s events.
Margaret would have approved and enjoyed every minute.

Margaret M. Lefebvre Obituary

September 15, 1943 – April 10, 2025,
Margaret M. Lefebvre ICD.D (née Bobkowicz) passed away peacefully with family at her side.
Born in Warsaw, Poland to Emilian and Stefania Bobkowicz, Margaret was predeceased by her brother Dr. Andrew J. Bobkowicz (Sally) and is survived by son Stuart Lawrence Lefebvre.
Margaret loved and was loved by her husbands Ron Walker, Bernie Lefebvre and Bob White, all of whom predeceased her.
… Former Councilor of the City of Westmount, she was also a proud past Board member of the National Research Council and Auto21. Founder and former Executive Director of the Canadian Association of Income Trusts. Former President of the Couchiching Institute on Public Affairs, Pillars Trust Fund, Canadian SPCA, English Speaking Catholic Council, and Canadian Centre for Ecumenism. Former Vice-President Alliance Quebec, Founding Vice-President Career Women’s Network, and former Director Centraide (United Way)
… Margaret will be missed by her family Brent Walker (Narda), Lesley Walker Wilson (John), Keith Walker (Sue), Mark Walker (Sheena) and her many grandchildren Scott (Stephanie), Kathryn (Ty), Lisanne (Dan), Thierry, Kyle, Erin, Rhonda, Kristen (Gianluca), Jason, and her great-grandchildren Charly, Liv, Quinn, Lana, Kai, Canon and Ginevra. Also, her nieces and nephews Andrea T. Bobkowicz, Michael Bobkowicz (Heather), Catherine Bobkowicz Goyetche, her great nieces and nephews Aidan, Simon (Laurie), Michelle (Chris) and great-great nephew Augustus.
Special thanks to the dedicated staff at the CLSC René Cassin/Benny Farm.

Wednesday Night Tribute
It is with the most profound sorrow that we confirm the news that our beloved and irreplaceable friend Margaret Lefebvre died on Thursday, 10 April. She rejoins her late husbands, her brother, and the ever-expanding circle of our Wednesday Night friends in the Cloud.
While we have all known for years that Margaret suffered from multiple, severe health issues, she seemed indestructible.
Our lives will not be the same without her.
Margaret will be remembered for her passion for her community and causes, her generosity, her quest for knowledge, and her service to English-Speaking Quebec and to Canada.
She will be mourned and sorely missed by friends of all ages, provenance and interests – a virtual DEI program!. Her intellect, curiosity, wit, wisdom, loyalty to friends, and diplomatic approach to problem solving touched her professional contacts and friends equally.
Often described as a force of nature –with a sense of humour- Margaret was drawn to a career in the public and not-for- profit sector that reflected her varied interests and focused on Governance.
She served as a board member of the National Research Council and Auto21; Co- Founder and Executive Director of the Canadian Association of Income Trusts; President of the Couchiching Institute on Public Affairs. She was Vice-President of Alliance Quebec; served as a Westmount city councillor and Director of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.
And that is by no means a complete list. She was incapable of saying no to a good cause, a needy organization, or plea from a friend.
Her membership and role as Receiver & Vice-Commander of the Military & Hospitaler Order of St-Lazarus of Jerusalem was especially dear to her heart
The funeral service will be held at 11am on Friday, 25 April at the Church of the Ascension of Our Lord, Clarke Avenue & Sherbrooke West, Westmount.

Tribute to Margaret Lefebvre
Diana Nicholson
25 April 2025

When Andrea asked me to speak today, my first instinct was to call Margaret to discuss what I should say! Because that is what I have done for so many years.
Lacking her advice –or maybe she did whisper in my ear- I thought the best tribute to her would be to share some of her friends’ expressions of affection, appreciation and feelings, even when the sentiment is one of heartbreak and a sense of great loss.
I will, however, pare it down slightly as some of the previous speakers have covered the same ground.

Margaret, beloved and irreplaceable friend, our lives will not be the same without you.
You inspired us with your passion for community and causes, devotion to your friends and family, generosity, quest for knowledge, wit, wisdom, ever-present laughter and terrific sense of humour.
And on rare occasions, your cheerful acceptance of being proven wrong ̶ case in point, your conviction that Giuliani would win the Florida primary despite all indications to the contrary.
The list of organizations and causes to which you devoted your commitment to governance is impressive and endless. You were incapable of saying no to a good cause, a needy organization, or plea from a friend.
Now that you reside in The Cloud, we hope that you will put your formidable lobbying skills to work on behalf of the friends, community and country you love. (Thank you for finding us parking right behind the Club for the reception. Good start!)
Was that you at work with Superior Court Justice Éric Dufour’s decision on the Concordia and McGill legal challenge to Quebec? If so, more please!
You are mourned and sorely missed by friends of all ages, provenance and interests, constituting a unique DEI cohort to whom you were always available, to laugh, to cry, to sympathize, analyze and advise, or simply enjoy a delicious gossip.
How often, dear Margaret, you spoke of the ‘family’ that Wednesday Night created. One in which the members were quick to offer help, advice, connections, references, research and the fruits of professional or personal experience. And you, Margaret, were always at the centre of the Wednesday Night ‘Help Desk”.
Your ability to recall discussions and conclusions was invaluable, as was your store of amusing anecdotes and, I must mention your never-ending variety of eye glasses frames.

It so fitting that we who mourn her are encouraged to donate a tree in Margaret’s memory.
As Brent Walker aptly writes: “[She] brought many gifts to each of us that we will not forget. These trees represent the growth that Margaret cherished in her life.”
We are used to thinking of trees as symbols, or in terms of destructive wildfires, deforestation, or softwood lumber disputes, but new research reveals that trees possess sophisticated communications abilities and mutual assistance networks. Margaret would have loved to delve into these discoveries and discuss their ramifications. And I will so miss the conversations we would have had about them.
In remembering Margaret, people speak of her as an inspiration and a force of nature, others her strong character and no nonsense attitude, intelligence combined with compassion; noting their admiration and respect for her achievements and knowledge; also as “a wonderful conversationalist”, her presence brightening any room; and as the gracious host of wonderful parties. Less formally, she is described as ‘feisty and fabulous’
And always noting her glorious sense of humour.
As her devoted friend Peter Frise (who has come from Windsor to be with us today) has said for all of us “I am heartbroken at her passing but forever grateful to have known her. She enriched all of our lives”
Margaret Somerville, [founding director of the McGill Centre for Medicine, Ethics and Law] writes from Australia
“She was indeed a great woman and a “one-off”. Nothing intimidated her but she handled difficult situations with…professional level diplomacy. My first thought was of her and Nobby [Dr. Norbert Gilmore, pioneer in the fight against HIV/AIDS] sharing a glass of wine and a laugh in some heavenly resort “

In conclusion, I must not omit the depth and joyousness of her love and selfless caring for her family – parents, brother Andrew, husbands Bernie and Ron.
On behalf of many of Margaret’s friends, I offer heartfelt condolences to Andrea and Aidan, Brent and all the Walker family. Above all, Stuart, you are in our thoughts today.
So many of us share your sorrow, but also will rejoice for many years in our blessed memories of Margaret.
Thank you to Andrea and the Walker family for this wonderful celebration of Margaret’s life in her tradition of great parties where old and new friends meet and share stories.
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There was either not sufficient time to include these quotes, or something similar had been said previously
Let us all take comfort in the thoughts of Margaret Cuddihy, who writes “My huge sense of loss is slowly being replaced by the warm memories of her love, generosity, loyalty, her passion for causes and her wonderful sense of humour. “
Helen Fotopulos : We’ve lost a truly special soul – someone whose passion, warmth, generosity, and steady wisdom left a mark on everyone she met. Margaret ‘s loyal heart and graceful way of handling life’s challenges were a quiet inspiration.
George Kesteven has “many fond memories of our days working together at the Canadian Association of Income Funds (CAIF) where she served as the Executive Director. As a previously elected official she brought a unique and valued perspective to the lobbying work that CAIF performed. She also had a great sense of humour which served everyone well as we dealt with Finance Ministers Ralph Goodale (Liberal) and Jim Flaherty (Conservative), their staff(s), various bureaucrats (including Mark Carney), and opposition politicians.” He is seconded by Francois Ramsay, who “got to know Margaret through CAIF. She was a very special lady and I thought very highly of her.”
John Parisella calls her “A truly engaged citizen’ while Alan Hustak bears witness to her commitment to the Conservative Party “The most gracious conservative I have ever had the pleasure to know”
Désirée McGraw: “She truly was a woman of consequence, deeply engaged in the world and devoted to her community”
Lynn Verge reminds us that Margaret suggested what became the highly successful Alzheimer Café which the Library organized with the Alzheimer Society of Montreal. While Monette Malewski has memories of their collaboration with Rick and Pierrette Sévigny McConomy on Project Chances and Centraide. And Ken Matziorinis notes it is “Rare to find people with her depth and breadth of participation in our community.”
Bernard St-Laurent: I’m feeling very sad. I had the pleasure of enjoying many meals and long political conversations with Margaret at our new home, The Liz.
She had a wonderful sense of humor, knew people from many political parties, was a treat to talk with at any time.
I will think of Margaret each time I walk into the dining room and look to see her smiling face, her diet Pepsi and her big blue wheelchair “Cadillac”.
Michel Jutras
Despite her health challenges over the past few years, she remained a steadfast lover of life. She relished a good meal, a vintage scotch and great discussion. With her good humour, a keen mind and well-informed perspective, she touched so many of us at Wednesday Night and beyond. May the memories of her warmth and kindness bring her family and friends comfort and peace.