Megan Lee Wolff was born in Peterborough, Ont. on July 7, 1968, seven minutes after her sister Jennifer, and, owing to the technology of the time, was a complete surprise to her parents, Barb and Jim, who immediately adjusted their long-term preparations for one child to two.

For the next five-plus decades, Megan and Jen were constant companions, inseparable in their younger years and deeply engaged in each other’s lives as adults despite geographical distances that stretched thousands of kilometers and even around the world. Megan also brought joy into the life of their younger brother Tim.

Megan died, surrounded by family, on Christmas Day after a sudden, intense illness following a COVID diagnosis. Her death is profoundly felt by family and friends in Manitoba, Ontario, Alberta and beyond.

She is survived by her daughter Mia, son Alex, twin sister Jennifer (Chris), brother Tim (Tara), parents Barbara and Jim Wolff of Pembroke, Ont., nieces Zoe, Luna, Eve and Jessica, nephews Owen, James and Declan, and her beloved partner of the last seven years, Andy Gow. Megan is also survived by the Kirbysons of Winnipeg, including her former husband Geoff, sister-in-law Jill (Dave) and mother-in-law Dawn, and is predeceased by father-in-law Ron. Also missing her immensely is her constant companion of the last four years, Jasper, a sweet and gentle Malamute.

Megan attended Barrhaven Public School, Graham Park Middle School and South Carleton High School in Nepean, a suburb of Ottawa. She and her siblings were shocked to hear they were moving to Winnipeg in the middle of her Grade 12 year after their dad accepted a job with the local CBC radio station, and she completed high school at Kelvin High School.

She obtained her Bachelor of Arts and her Bachelor of Education from the University of Manitoba in 1989 and 1992, respectively.

Upon graduation, Megan spent a year teaching English in Japan. She returned to Canada and married Geoff in Winnipeg a few years later. Mia was born in November 1997 and Alex followed in December 2000.

Mia and Alex were, quite simply, the lights of Megan’s life. She was immensely proud of them in everything they did - whether in school, on the field of play or how they treated others - and was their biggest cheerleader. She was also their trusted confidante and counsellor when they faced challenges and setbacks.

After spending 11 years at home with her kids, Megan achieved her lifelong dream of having her own classroom when she accepted a job teaching Grade 1 at Strathcona School.

She moved to J.B. Mitchell in 2012 to teach Grade 1 and then nursery school. She was an extraordinary teacher, treating her students with the utmost respect and love. She was never afraid to tell her students how much they meant to her and hugged them regularly. It was common for former students to stop by her classroom to say hi and to get another hug.

With the conclusion of this school year, Megan was set to embark on the next great chapter of her life, planning a move to Colorado to be with Andy.

Megan will be remembered for a smile that could brighten up the darkest of rooms, her sense of humour, infectious laughter and her ability to put people at ease immediately. When you had a conversation with her, she gave you her full attention as if you were the most important person in the room. Because you were. And it didn’t matter if you were five years old or 75, Megan spoke to everybody as if they were her equal. Because, in her mind, they were.

Megan is predeceased by her grandparents, Desmond and Mae Wolff and Walter and Grace McIntyre, of Pembroke, Ont.

The family would like to thank the medical teams at both the Grace Hospital and the St. Boniface Hospital for their expert care during Megan’s brief illness.

Cremation has taken place. A celebration of life will be held at a later date when larger gatherings are permitted. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Winnipeg School Division Children’s Heritage Fund in care of Strathcona School or J.B. Mitchell School.