Margaret Anderson

Margaret Ione "Maggy Lightbody" Anderson born 1/31/1931 in Regina, Saskatchewan, died Thursday February 7, 2013 at home in Maple Grove following a brief illness. Maggy took her leave of this earth walk with incredible peace, grace and without fear. Her cat Moki and the love of her life Rosemary Rocco were at her side while friends across the land held a sacred circle of light and love.

Maggy received her Masters of Social Work from Smith College in 1957. As a pioneer in child guidance she worked at the Guidance Institute in Reading, PA, moving to Duluth in 1965 to work at HDC until 1979 as an individual, family and group therapist, from 1985-87 at Chrysalis and retired from Community University Health Clinic, Minneapolis in 1994. A feminist always, Maggy was instrumental in the development of the Battered Womens' Coalition, provided support to those launching PAVSA and with the quiet courage she showed all her life she claimed her gender preference long before it was acceptable or safe to do so, and was a founding mother of Aurora Northland Lesbian Center. While never seeking acclaim, Maggy touched many lives and advanced the cause of dignity and rights for all beings, especially women and children. Her regard for animals is best exemplified by her friends wanting to return as one of Maggy's pets. She was an avid reader, loving mysteries and her New Yorker in her last years, loved music of all genres and always read the comics first.

Maggy was preceded in death by her parents Christine and Harold Anderson and beloved nanny Rhea Thomas. She is survived by brother Douglas, nephew John (Roxane), nieces Margaret Ann and Sandra, of Winnipeg, the love of her life Rosemary, Moki her cat, of Maple Grove, dear friend Eleni Roulis, brother of the heart Ed McParlan, family of the heart Bob and Sharon Cottor and their children, Lynn, Suzanne, Jonathan, and Elizabeth and sisters of the heart too numerous to name.

A memorial will be held in summer on the island she loved deeply among the birches, pines and bedrock of the Canadian Shield. Maggy asked that those wanting to honor her with a contribution do so to their local Humane Society, Building for Women in Duluth, or Ryan House, Phoenix, Arizona. Maggy lived and died with intention, dignity and respect. She would say to us; smile because it happened rather than cry because it is over.