Obituary of Margaret Ann Brown

Margaret Ann Brown died peacefully at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Charlottetown on April 6, 2026, just a few days before her 83rd birthday. Margaret Ann was born in Winnipeg to John Victor and Margaret Hazel (Johnstone) Wilkinson on April 14, 1943, the second of five children. Their childhoods were filled with lots of big family gatherings and adventures. That included time spent at their grandparents' place in Little Britain, where she would play in the orchards and asparagus patch. 

Known by her family as “Nan” because her young siblings couldn’t say Margaret Ann, they remember her as independent, resilient, and interested in politics and the world.  

She married Fred Morrison Brown in 1965, and they had three children, Maggie, Andrew (Natalie) and Christopher (Zoe). 

They moved back and forth across the country, and into the States. Moving so often was hard, but she created a home every time. With Fred on the road through the week, she had to wrangle three kids and all their sports and activities, along with a series of family pets, mostly dogs, but sometimes a budgie or a duck thrown in for good measure. Her experiences moving led her to get into real estate, an occupation she really enjoyed. She also worked in the McDonalds restaurants with Fred and the kids - mostly in the lobby, where her ability to connect with people really shone. She and Fred enjoyed those years, working with young people and getting to become a part of the community after many years of moving around. They made many close friends, and always spoke fondly of their time in Moncton, and especially Sussex, where they tended a giant garden and mom was a board member with Sussex Vale Transition House. 

After selling the restaurant Fred and Margaret Ann moved briefly to Halifax and then to PEI, where two of their kids were living. She loved the Island and our neighbourhood in Stratford, especially swimming at Tea Hill and Kinlock beaches - as well as eating oysters. Living next door to grandson Owen meant they got to create many special memories together. Her other grandson Wil lives in B.C., but she loved to FaceTime with him to hear all about what he was up to. Later, she found a faithful couch companion in Stuart the dog. She hosted many holiday meals and other get-togethers, and her cooking and baking were always appreciated by her family and guests. No one could match her pies, especially lemon meringue. 

Margaret Ann cared deeply about people, animals and the natural world. She had a soft spot for birds and squirrels and would spend many hours being delighted by their antics.

She was someone who loved to have a good long chat on the phone, in the grocery store, or wherever she was. She described her younger self as rebellious, and her strength and tenacity carried her through many tough times. People would often describe our mother as sweet, and she was someone who laughed easily and often. But she could also be fierce at times - when she felt there was an injustice or something was unfair.

We are going to miss her smile, her light, and her deep love for us and all living things. 

Resting at Hillsboro Funeral Home.  By request, no visitation or funeal service will be held.

We’d like to thank everyone at the PEI Cancer Centre, the QEH emergency room, the PEI palliative care program and Unit 1, especially all the kind nurses who cared for her over the past few weeks. Also, thanks to the home care workers and friends and family who have supported us over the past couple of years.