Margie passed away peacefully at Burnaby Hospital on Sunday, February 21 at the age of 81. She was born in Fort McLeod, Alberta, to Rose and Joe Keiran, and was raised on the North Shore of Kootenay Lake near Nelson, BC along with her five siblings. This was the setting for a memorable childhood, with the lake, family orchard, and nearby forests providing food for her imagination, the source of many stories in the years to come.
Following high school, Marg’s taste for adventure was evident as she worked summers in Lake Louise and moved to Vancouver to work at BC Electric as a keypunch operator. She completed a Bachelor of Arts degree at UBC, once it was insisted her major be declared. She soon began her lifelong career as a high school teacher, taking opportunities to travel and pursue outdoor activities such as sailing, skiing, and hiking. During a road trip to Sylvan Lake, Alberta in her sports car, Marg met and fell in love with Ralph Horlacher, a Swiss farmer who helped her with a flat tire. In 1973, they married at the old parish church in Proctor on the shores of Kootenay Lake and moved to Vancouver, eventually settling in South Burnaby where they raised their three children, Heidi, Jennifer, and Brendan.
Margie was a long time Burnaby high school English teacher, respected and admired by her students and fellow teachers alike. Following her retirement, she and Ralph set out for numerous road trips in BC and beyond. They were happy to let the road guide them and enjoyed the unexpected adventures that brought. This period was sadly cut short with Ralph’s passing in 2002, but Marg continued to travel and welcome many family and friends into her home. In 2006, she became a proud grandmother, and she delighted in spending time with each of her five grandchildren as they arrived and grew.
She was well known as a fun loving soul, with a great sense of humour, adventurous spirit, easy smile, and memorable laugh that will be missed and remembered. She was a deeply spiritual person, with a warm heart, and a strong sense of right and wrong. We take comfort in knowing mom has now entered into Light and Peace.
Missing her dearly are her three children, Brendan, Jennifer, and Heidi (Graeme), along with her 5 grandchildren Eamon, Noah, Lauren, Dominic, and Samuel, her siblings Sheila, Kathy, and Mike, and her many extended family and friends in BC and around the world.
Marg would have encouraged you to take a moment in nature to reflect and to give a great big hug to those you hold dear. A celebration of life is planned once gathering can occur in greater numbers. A direct link to view the Live Stream of Margie’s Celebration of Life https://www.legacystreaming.com/kearney/ .
A view of Kootenay Lake