Margaret Kinslow, 99, of Baldwinsville, NY passed away Monday at home in her sleep with loving family at her side. It was a peaceful end to an extraordinary life in which Margaret touched all who knew her with her quiet strength, gentle wisdom, loving presence, and firm faith in God.

Margaret was many things to many people—a loving wife and adoring (and adored) mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, but also an artist, pianist, teacher, librarian, cruciverbalist, writer, bridge partner, and dance partner, not to mention on-call chauffeur, five-star chef, procurement officer, and family CEO.

Over the years she sent letters, notes and cards numbering in the thousands to her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and extended family. The very last note she wrote, to her sister-in-law, Joan, arrived the day Margaret passed away. She was always thinking of those she loved and always put others first.

Margaret was a faithful communicant of St. Mary of the Assumption Church in Baldwinsville for 70 years. She was a longtime volunteer for the Altar Rosary Society, hosted the St. Mary's Women's Bible Group in her home, and taught RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults).

She was born Margaret Mary Powers in Kitchener, Ontario, at home, on June 4, 1924, the oldest of five children born to Edward C. Powers and Gladys Stock Powers. As a child, Margaret loved books and music and played the piano, passions she would one day pass on to her own children.

As a young woman Margaret became a schoolteacher and taught grades one through eight in a one-room schoolhouse in Bamberg, Ontario. Soon after, she met William B. (Bill) Kinslow, Jr. of Baldwinsville, NY, who was studying at St. Jerome's College in Waterloo. They married in 1952. Margaret gave birth to their first child in 1953 in Germany, where Bill, a WWII veteran, had been stationed for the Korean War. He and Margaret later returned to Baldwinsville, where they settled and raised their seven children.

At midlife, when her youngest child, John, entered grade school, Margaret went back to school also, to Syracuse University, where she earned her master's in library science. She served for many years as school librarian for Grant Middle School in Syracuse, and to this day recycled library catalogue cards, Margaret's answer to Post-It Notes, can be found throughout her home.

Margaret was predeceased by her husband, Bill, her parents, and her four younger siblings, Danny, Ted, Joan (Foell), and Anne (Tompkins). She was also predeceased by her beloved grandsons, George Taylor and Bill Kinslow IV, whom she dearly missed.

She is survived by her three daughters, Anne Taylor of Edinburgh, Scotland, Kathy Kinslow of Baldwinsville, and Jane (Jeffrey) King of Medford, MA; four sons, William (Joni) Kinslow of Flemington, NJ, Tom (Joanne) Kinslow of Fayetteville, NY, Rob Kinslow (Janice) of Townshend, VT, and John (Marci) Kinslow of North Port, FL; 11 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. In their eyes she was an angel, and in their hearts she will always dwell.

Calling hours will be held Saturday, March 23, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at St. Mary's Church, 47 Syracuse St., Baldwinsville.  A funeral Mass will follow at 11 a.m.  Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, Baldwinsville.

Contributions may be made to the Christian Appalachian Project, 485 Ponderosa Drive, Paintsville, KY 41240, or online at www.christianapp.org