Obituary of Marjorie Prieur

Marjorie passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 19, 2008 at the age of 86. Her death leaves all of us who loved her bereft and saddened, but we’re comforted when we think of the very full life she led and how many lives she enriched. Marjorie Georgina was born in Medicine Hat, AB on December 24, 1921, though her father George Thompson moved the family to Red Deer when she was quite young. After graduating from Sacred Heart Convent in Red Deer, she took her teacher’s training at Calgary Normal School and her first job was in the small school district of Carritt, AB. Marjorie met and fell in love with John Watson in Sylvan Lake, AB while he was covering the annual regatta for the Calgary Albertan. After their marriage and the birth of Grant and Jinny, she retired from teaching until they were in junior and senior high school. Marjorie then returned to the classroom in the late 50’s, teaching with the Calgary Separate School Board. From those days until her retirement in 1980, she touched the lives of thousands of students from grades one through six. Marjorie made lifelong friends, like fellow teacher Vikki Reid, who visited her regularly at the Bow View Nursing Home. Books and music also played a significant role in Marjorie’s life. Because of her “catholic” taste, she was just as happy playing Chopin as she was banging out the “Marche Militaire” duet with her sister Virginia. Marjorie also wrote poems, short stories and plays for her family and friends to enjoy as well as research papers for the Calgary Literary Society. She was gifted with a wonderful sense of humour and everywhere she went she found a friend. So we add to the list of family who grieve, all the friends she made throughout her 86 years. The family also thanks the staff at the Bow View Manor for the love and kindness they showed Marjorie for every day of the four years she spent there. Marjorie is survived by her son Grant (Lorraine) of Calgary; daughter, Virginia (William) Watson-Rouslin of Saanich, BC and her husband, Robert Prieur of Calgary. Many nieces and nephews loved Marjorie and called her their friend as well as “Auntie”. They include her namesake, Marjorie O’Connor (Patrick), Elizabeth Olson (Greg), Douglas (Johanna) and George (Irena) Darrah, all of Edmonton. These are the children of her beloved older sister Virginia, who predeceased her. On the other side of the family ledger were the Watsons. Marjorie’s sister-in-law, Pamela Warkentin (David Sr.) was like a daughter to her and Pam’s children, Nikki and David Jr. were also much loved by her. Her first husband John Watson predeceased her in 1979. Marjorie married Robert Prieur in 1984. A Memorial Service will be held at McINNIS & HOLLOWAY’S Chapel of the Bells (2720 Centre Street North) on Thursday, January 24, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. Graveside Service to follow at Queen’s Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Alberta, 200, 119 – 14th Street N.W., Calgary, AB T2N 1Z6 Telephone: (403) 264-5549, www.heartandstroke.ca. Forward condolences through www.mcinnisandholloway.com. In living memory of Marjorie Prieur, a tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Chapel of the Bells, 2720 CENTRE STREET NORTH Telephone: (403) 276-2296.