Marjorie Marling GREENE
July 29, 1925 – August 27, 2016
Intrepid traveller, Marjorie Greene died peacefully on August 27, 2016 at Stanford Place in Parksville, BC, a favourite West Coast town she chose in retirement.
Lovingly remembered by sister, Catherine Tuck (Charlottetown); nieces, Gertrude (Beth) Eayrs (Toronto), Erin Greene (Duncan), Kerry (Forest) Surridge (Langley), and nephew, Alan Tuck (Charlottetown) and their families, as well as several great nieces and nephews, cousins and many wonderful friends. Predeceased by her parents the Reverend Canon Alan and Gertrude (Finlayson) Greene; brothers, John and Alan and sister, Barbara Greene (Lasqueti Island).
The daughter of pioneering parents who settled in Quathiaski Cove, Quadra Island, where her father served as an Anglican cleric, Marjorie was born in Rock Bay, north of Campbell River in the Columbia Coast Mission Hospital. For many years, Canon Greene served on the Columbia Coast Mission ships that plied the coastal waters to provide medical and social care to isolated outposts. The family moved to Vancouver when Marjorie was 11 years old.
Marjorie began her career as a teacher in Burns Lake and Vancouver, but soon felt the irresistible lure of the travel industry and switched paths. She worked in various related fields -- travel agent, tour operator, hotel marketing, and also for Tourism Canada and Tourism BC – and along the way lived in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, Scottsdale, AZ and London, UK.
She returned to her BC roots when she retired and commented that she’d spent her career sending people away from home but that now she was happily returning! Coming home to the magnificent West Coast landscape and rhythm of the ocean inspired Marjorie to paint watercolours and pastels. She was extremely active in the arts community in Parksville and Qualicum Beach. She served on the Board of The Old School House (TOSH) in its early years, and was also involved with the McMillan Arts Centre, DeCosmos Fine Arts Society, and Oceanside Community Arts Council. Another highlight of retirement was renting and conducting guided tours on the Chelsea II, one of the former Columbia Coast Mission ships.
The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Marjorie’s awesome “Executive Team” as she fondly dubbed them – cousin Susan Finlayson (Bowser, BC) and friend Laurie Broadhurst (Rossland, BC ) -- for their devotion, many kindnesses, and superb assistance these past years.
A special thank you as well to the excellent staff at Stanford Place Care Campus and Elder Life Advocacy and In-Home Care for their support and help.
A Memorial Service will be held in Marjorie’s honour at 1:30 pm
on Monday, September 5, 2016 at St. Anne St Edmund
Anglican Church, 407 Wembley Road in Parksville
with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, please
remember Marjorie by supporting a charity of your choice.
To send a condolence to the family please visit www.yatesfuneral.ca
YATES FUNERAL SERVICE & CREMATORIUM (250-248-5859) in care of arrangements.