Margaret McKenna Erb, age 81, died peacefully on December 7, 2012. She was born April 9, 1931, to John and Elizabeth McKenna of Pictou, Nova Scotia, Canada. The youngest of six children, she thrived in Pictou, a beautiful seaside town. She graduated from Mount St. Bernard's in 1949, and went on to work briefly at the Sydney Finance Company in Antigonish, N.S. In 1951, she enrolled at St. Martha's School of Nursing in Antigonish, graduating in 1954. She worked at the Halifax Infirmary for a year before moving to the United States in 1955. She continued nursing at hospitals in Boston and Long Beach, as well as St. John's Hospital in Springfield. In Boston, she met the love of her life, Richard Erb, who was serving in the navy. They were married at Immaculate Conception Church on November 8, 1958. A devoted wife and mother of three children, Margaret remained active outside the home. She did the books for the family business, Phil Erb Refrigeration Company. She was an active member of St. Agnes Cathedral, teaching in the C.C.D. program. While serving as a Eucharistic minister, she often visited nursing homes. She also volunteered for Meals on Wheels and worked occasionally at the Kitchen. Margaret especially loved her volunteer work for the Springfield Little Theatre. In 1981, she returned to nursing at St. John's, retiring in 1993. Margaret cherished every trip back to Canada, and she enjoyed traveling on business trips with her husband. She enjoyed baking bread and giving dinner parties for her many relatives and friends. In addition to her parents, Margaret was preceded in death by Richard, her husband of 45 years. She was also preceded in death by her siblings, Gerald, Jean, Roy, and James. She is survived by her sister, Ailene Campbell, of Halifax, Nova Scotia; her son, Douglas Erb, and his wife, Krista Desens, of Springfield; her son, David Erb, and his wife, Rosemary Erb, of Minneapolis, Minnesota; and her daughter, Cynthia Erb, of Springfield. Her grandchildren are Sally and Jean Erb of Springfield. Visitation will be Tuesday, December 11, from 6 to 8 p.m. in Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home. Funeral Mass will be held at St. Agnes Cathedral on Wednesday, December 12, at 10 a.m. The burial on Wednesday will be at 1 p.m. at the Missouri Veteran's Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family requests contributions be made to the Alzheimer's Association-Southwest Missouri Chapter.