1923 - 2010 - Margaret Isabel Rideout (nee Saunders) passed away at the Moncton Hospital on May 12, 2010 after a short illness. She was born June 16, 1923 to Vance and Dolena (McRae) Saunders of Bridgewater N.S. and is predeceased by her husband Sherwood. She is survived by her sister Barbara and Jim (Rudolph) of Bridgewater N.S and her two sister-in-laws, Mildred Saunders of Bridgewater, NS and Edna Rideout of Moncton. She was also predeceased by her brother William Saunders of Bridgewater, her sister and brother in law Shirley and Charles Vaughn of Halifax; Sherwood's brother Charles Rideout of Moncton, his sister and brother in law Murray and Georgina (Rideout) Seeley and his sister Catherine Rideout of Bermuda. She will be sadly missed by her three sons and their families George and Zoë and their children Natalie (Scott Dubreuil), Nancy and her daughter Rylie Jane and Stephen (Pam Walker); David and Ann and their children Michael, Patrick, Simon and William; and Robert and Ada and their children Andrew and Megan. Margaret's life was built around her family, her church community and public service. She was elected as the first female Member of Parliament for New Brunswick in 1964 and served as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health and Welfare at a time when Canada was implementing Medicare. After leaving Parliament she became a Judge of the Court of Canadian Citizenship and ultimately became the Chief Judge. Having traveled the world representing Canada as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health and Welfare she began to truly explore Canada and become one of the first official faces of Canada to the many people who passed through her Court. She served on several Boards including the Board of Governors at Acadia University where she was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Civil Laws Degree, the Board of the Atlantic Baptist Senior Citizens Home, the Salvation Army, the Canadian Bible Society, the Business and Professional Women's Association and was a long serving member of Board of the Moncton Hospital. She was the Moderator for the First Baptist Church in Moncton. Her various accomplishments for women in New Brunswick were honored when she received the Muriel McQueen Fergusson Award.
A memorial service will be held at First Baptist Church on Queen St. in Moncton on Saturday May 15, 2010 at 1:30 pm followed by a reception in the church hall. Interment in Fairhaven Memorial Gardens at a later date. Memorial donations in Margaret's memory may be made to The Moncton Hospital, First United Baptist Church or the charity of the donor's choice. Arrangements entrusted to Fair Haven Funeral Home, 1177 Salisbury Road, Moncton (506) 852-3530. A book of condolences may be signed at www.fairhavenmemorial.ca.