Margaret Kantola

Margaret Kantola was born in Saskatchewan, Canada in 1931. She was the daughter of Samuel and Estella (Bateman) McBride. She had one sister, Gwendolen, and two brothers, Vern and Clayton. During the depression, the family moved to Belleville, Ontario and eventually settled in Toronto.

Margaret married Alfred Victor Kantola and they had six children: Mark, Victor, Lorrain, Steven, Carolyn, and Jonathan. Margaret was extremely proud of her Irish/Canadian heritage and remained a Canadian citizen until her death. She was an accomplished seamstress and once operated a ladies dress alteration shop in downtown Charlevoix. She was also an accomplished cook and operated a restaurant in Naples, Fla. with her sister Gwen.

Margaret was a devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She is survived by her daughter, Carolyn Kantola; sons, Mark Kantola, Steven (Nancy Beghein) Kantola, and Jonathan (Anne) Kantola; daughter-in-law, Pam Kantola all of Charlevoix; grandchildren, Maggie (Janelle Palmer) Kantola, Andrew Kantola, Samuel Kantola; great-granddaughters, Ariahna Kantola, Josephine Kantola; brother, Clayton McBride of Glendale, Calif.

Margaret was preceded in death by her son, Victor; infant daughter, Lorrain; former husband, Alfred; brother, Vern McBride; sister, Gwen Franco.

Margaret battled her illness with grace and dignity and found great comfort in her faith in Jesus Christ. She will be missed but remembered always.

Funeral will be 4 pm, Saturday, May 28, at the Community Reformed Church in Charlevoix, where visitation will begin at 3 pm.  The Reverend Chip Sauer will officiate.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Little Traverse Bay, 1 Hiland Drive, Petoskey, MI 49770.