December 22, 1926 to April 28, 2013
Marjorie was born in Kamloops, B.C. and passed peacefully on Sunday,
April 28, 2013 in the Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital in Trail, BC. Born to Thomas Joseph Wilcox and Margaret Hamilton Pollock on December 22, 1926. Marjorie was the youngest of nine children who have all predeceased her. Alice (James Millar) Kamloops, Francis (Vi Fiddick) Castlegar, BC; Joseph (Doris Perry), New Westminister, BC; Helen (James Standen), Kamloops, BC; Nora (William Belcham), Little Fort, BC; Albert Seraphim (Olga Shinduke), Vernon, BC; Robert (Eva Bartlett) Salmon Arm, BC; Dorothy (Ronald Bonnett) Oliver, BC;
Marjorie was raised in the Louis/Heffley Creek Valley, (near the Sun Peaks Ski Area north of Kamloops, BC) from 1931 to 1944. Her formal education ceased in Grade 5 with the closure of the rural school. Her education continued by correspondence, interrupted by the rigors of farm life, dominated by sheep herding. Mom had an deep affinity with animals, especially dogs and horses, who she considered her best friends while growing up in rural isolation. When Mom was 17 years old, her mother accompanied her to Victoria B.C. to attended High School from 1944 to 1947. Mom considered education a privilege and honour; she was a life long learner and self educated, often termed ‘professor’ by her close friends. She loved history and kept herself abreast of world events. Marjorie loved gardening, cooking, sewing, knitting and spent many hours playing cards with family and friends. As a devote Catholic, Mom’s faith was very important to her and she was a perpetual student of the Bible. St. Rita’s Roman Catholic Parish community was focal in her life and she was a life member of the Catholic Women’s League. She greatly appreciated those who brought her communion on Sundays when she was no longer able to attend Mass.
Marjorie married Joseph Andre Lamarche (predeceased November 10, 2001) on December 29, 1947 in Victoria, BC. Shortly there after they moved to Port Alberni, B.C. to find work and start a family. Their first six children were born in Port Alberni, B.C. before moving to Castlegar, BC in 1960, where the last child was born. Marjorie lived at Castlewood Village for the last six years, where she greatly enjoyed the companionship and comradery of many friends and enjoyed many of their activities. These were very happy years for her. Marjorie will be missed by her Castlewood Family, and we, her family, would like to express a heartfelt thank you to all who supported and enriched her life while living there.
Marjorie was an avid reader and passed on her love for reading to all her children. Mom’s greatest and noblest calling in life was that of being the Mother of seven children, Bernard (Wendy Koeller), Calgary, AB; Mary Catherine (Andre Ruel), Courtenay, BC; Jacqueline (Fraser East), Nelson, BC; Philip (Bonny Nerenberg), Parksville, BC; Louise (deceased May 28, 2006) Castlegar, BC; Gerard (Nadene Gregory), Dunneville, Ontario; Gisele (Lamarche) Trail, BC. Mom was very proud of her 23 grandchildren and 26 great grandchildren.
The funeral for Marjorie, will be held at St. Rita’s Catholic Church Hall, 513 7th Avenue, Castlegar, BC V1N 1R3, at 11am on Saturday May 4th, 2013. The viewing will be held prior from 10:00-10:30am at St. Rita’s Hall. Marjorie’s heart was broken by the fire at St. Rita’s, so donations can be made, in lieu of flowers, to St. Rita’s Rebuilding Fund.
Sarah Greenwood of Castlegar Funeral Chapel has been
entrusted with the arrangements.