Gathered around Margarette are from left to right: her son Jim, daughter Marilyn, son Tim, and grandson Kevin
By Kathryn Stocks
Centennial resident Margarette Stanton turned 100 years old on September 18! Fifty friends, neighbours and family members came to her home to celebrate. “It was womderful,” her daughter Marilyn McAllister said. She received many cards and beautiful floral arrangements.
Margarette grew up on Concord Ave. in Toronto with her sister, Muriel, and two brothers, Bill and Gordon MacDonald. Muriel is now 96 but Bill and Gordon passed away many years ago.
During the Second World War, Margarette was a Bomb Girl and worked at a munitions factory in Toronto where she made ejectors. “I was so bad at that,” Margarette laughed. Later they had her working in the store. She said one of her favourite things to do during those years was “go to the dances.”
Margarette met her husband, Ben Stanton, at Sunnyside. She remembered he laughed at the English riding outfit she was wearing because he was a real cowboy from Duchess, Alberta. But they hit it off and were married for 70 years.
Margarette and Ben were both involved with CCRA. Ben was president on two occasions, and Margarette worked at the dances, the fireworks displays on Victoria Day, and roasting corn at fall events. In those days, CCRA had three or four dances a year: for St. Patrick’s Day, Valentine’s Day and New Year’s Eve.
She and Ben were also involved in collecting field stone from Adams Farm for the construction of the gates at Adams Park, which Ben designed.
In her 30s, Margarette drove cancer patients to Princess Margaret Hospital for treatment and she volunteered at Centennial Road United Church. She is also a longtime member of the Legion.
Margarette and Ben were a fun-loving couple who held many great parties around their pool in the backyard. Margarette has had a really full life, Marilyn said.