Obituary of Peggy MacDonald

Our hearts are filled with Love and Gratitude for a life well lived as we say goodbye to our wonderful Mother, Grandmother, Great-Grandmother, Sister, Aunt and Friend Margaret (Peggy) MacDonald. Margaret (Peggy) had a distinctive life force. She lived a long, full, happy and interesting life. Born in Saint John July 12, 1930 - the oldest child of Ottis (Otty) and Mary Bostwick she hit the ground running.

The Bostwicks moved from the city to beautiful Wickham on the banks of the Saint John (Wolastoq) River where Otty and Mary raised their 7 children to be resourceful, hardworking and loving.Peggy attended public school as long as she was able in the rural community of Wickham, went out to work as soon as she could  - her first job was as a telephone operator with NBTel in Hampstead. Peggy was a woman of faith and lived her life with strong Christian values.

She met her lifelong love, George MacDonald in 1946 and they married in 1948. They lived in Belyeas Cove and had their 4 children there with the Washademoak Lake as their backdrop and playground before moving to Massachusetts twice, in the late 50s then again in the early 60s until their retirement.

George and Peg lived life to the fullest. They loved to socialize and had a large circle of friends that they bowled, golfed, played cards and traveled with over the years. They spent many happy hours with the MacDonald and Bostwick families at gatherings. They were kind, respectful and loving parents who enjoyed their children and eventually grandchildren and were an integral part of their lives.

They took sailing lessons, took temporary possession of Wendy and Steve’s 24 ft. Sailboat and when they retired back to NB, spent many happy hours on the Lake. The dream to retire back to NB came true in 1989. That same fall/winter saw them head south to Bradenton, Florida where they bought their winter home which they enjoyed so very much until Dads passing in 2007. George and Peg started traveling in 1974 and continued until Dad was no longer able; he passed away in 2007. They saw Cancun, Bermuda, Bahamas, St. Kitts, LasVegas, Acapulco and took many Caribbean cruises. Not to be swayed - Mum continued the yearly trek south until she was no longer able in 2023.     

Mum was never quite content to be a stay-at-home Mum - she wanted to be in the workforce. While living in Massachusetts, as soon as all four of their kids were in school, she went out to work. She started at a lunch counter in a drugstore, became a cashier at a local supermarket (DeMoulas, now known as Market Basket) was promoted to the office there and eventually became the office manager. From there she went to their corporate office where she was their head receptionist. She loved her job and was proud of her accomplishments.
Peggy found a loving companion in George Visser whom she met in Florida in 2011. They enjoyed many happy times together including traveling to Michigan to see his family as well as Caribbean cruises and a European Rhine River Cruise. They were together until his passing in October 2023.

Peggy is survived by her son Doug (Karen O’Hagan) MacDonald; daughters Cheryl (MacDonald) Webster, Wendy (MacDonald) and Stephen Goff, Beverley (MacDonald) and Bob Rudis. She is also survived by her youngest sister Sandra (Bostwick) and her husband David Gray as well as her sisters in law Gwen and Kathryn Bostwick; brother in law Lloyd Mott; as well as many nieces and nephews. Her six grandchildren - Bailey Webster, Alejandro W. and Alejandro V. Duenas, Dylan, Stacey and Ruby Webster, Meg (MacDonald) Dov, Evan and Kai Pechenick, Chelsey (Goff) Lawson and Mike MacKenzie, Belle MacKenzie and Hannibal MacKenzie and Denton and Rowan Lawson, Miles, Danielle (Belyea), Flora and Edie Goff, Ian and Alexa (Higgins) Goff. Peggy was pre-deceased by her loving husband, George MacDonald, her parents, Otty and Mary Bostwick. Her siblings Joseph, George, Shirley, Geraldine and John. (Jack) Bostwick, infant twin siblings David and Dawn Marie Bostwick and her son in law V. Lynn Webster.

Peggy lived her last two years at the VA Snow Centre in Hampton.  She was happy, content and treated with love and respect.  The care she received from the staff there was beyond exemplary. 

Arrangements have been entrusted to Sherwood’s Funeral Home and Life Tribute Centre (506-839-2156), Norton, NB where visitation will be held on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, from 4:00 to 7:00pm. The funeral service will be held on Wednesday, November 26, 2025 at 1:00pm at the Sherwood’s Chapel. The interment will take place at Belyeas Cove Cemetery, NB. 

Donations in memory of Peggy may be made to the Alzheimer’s Society, The VA Snow Centre, The Belyeas Cove Community Hall or Belyeas Cove Cemetery or a charity of your choice.  Personal condolences to the family and memorial donations may be made through SherwoodsFuneralHome.com