Marie was born in The Pas, Manitoba where her parents Lawrence and Hilda were stationed as Salvation Army Officers. The middle child of three, her childhood was spent in Saskatchewan (she began school in Melfort) and Alberta. She has expressed her gratitude to her parents for the loving Christian atmosphere of her home and their example of love and service in action.
Following her high school graduation in Edmonton, Alberta, Marie moved to Vancouver and entered nursing training at the Provincial Mental Hospital. She graduated as a psychiatric nurse and worked in nursing for five years.
She entered the Salvation Army Training College in Toronto in 1965 and graduated in June 1967. Her first appointment was to Catherine Booth House in Vancouver, B.C. This was the forerunner of a career in Salvation Army Social Services which included appointments in Saskatoon, Sask, St John N.B., New Westminster, B.C, Calgary, Alberta and just prior to her retirement as assistant director of Southview Lodge in Vancouver, B.C.
While vacationing in California in 1977 Marie was involved in a serious motor vehicle accident which resulted in a spinal cord injury. After 2 years of retraining and rehabilitation she returned to active service as a Salvation Army Officer form her wheelchair and retired in 1991. She continued her involvement with the Salvation Army until her “Promotion to Glory”.
Marie traveled to Europe in 1984 and a memorable part of that trip included attending the passion Play in Oberammagau, Germany with nieces Dawn and Peri and than was joined by brother Bill and Jackie for a most memorable family visit to Denmark including the birthplace of her father. In 1994 she thoroughly enjoyed a Panama Canal Cruise with her niece Dawn-Marie
In her later years she required frequent home care assistance and often expressed her gratitude for the measure of independence this gave her. She was able to live in her own apartment with their help until being recently admitted to Burnaby General Hospital were she was Promoted to Glory” on Wednesday, January 21st, 2009.
Marie is survived by her brother Bill and sister-in-law Jackie, and sister Eva. She is also lovingly remembered by nephews Tim and Mark, and nieces Leslie, Dawn-Marie, Kelly and Peri, great nephews Matthew, Francis, Peter and Christopher and great-nieces Kayla-Marie and Lacey and great-great-nephew Carson. She also had cousins in Richmond, B.C. and Denmark.
A celebration of Marie’s life will be held in The Salvation Army Southmount Citadel on Friday, January 30th at 2pm. 3403 E49th Ave (at Tyne St)
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to The Salvation Army Southmount Citadel or to the charity of your choice.