Obituary of Marjorie (nee Corrie) WERRY

December 7, 1925 – Winnipeg, Manitoba
February 1, 2021 – Calgary, Alberta

Marge Werry of Calgary, AB, passed away on Monday, February 1, 2021 at the age of 95 years.

Mom was born in 1925 to Bill and Janet Corrie (Glenn) in Winnipeg, MB, where she grew up with her brother Jim. She was only sixteen years old, when her brother was killed in 1942 in a motor-vehicle accident in England, while training during WWII. On a special bus trip to the UK in 1996, Mom was finally able to visit her brother’s grave in the Brookwood Cemetery in Surrey, England. Mom loved to sing and play the piano. The “20 lessons for $20” paid off. She recorded a couple of songs in 1942. She even wrote and sang a song in memory of her brother called “I Say Hello to You”. 

She epitomised what her favorite singer Doris Day was singing about in Young at Heart. “Don’t you know it’s worth every treasure on earth, to be young at heart?” Throughout life, she stayed true to who she was in the beginning – an energetic, hope-filled young woman with a powerful spring in her step, looking for fun and new adventures, for any chance to laugh, sing and dance, spend good times with loved ones and friends. 

Mom was predeceased by her love Gerry by only six weeks. Dad passed away on December 27, 2020. They met in 1947 and were married on June 24, 1950. It was a beautiful love story; they were totally devoted to each other. They were an inspiration to all of us. Sadly, Mom was diagnosed with dementia in 2012. When she was told that Dad had passed away, she was devastated and said she could not live without him. That was so true, Mom. She will be greatly missed by her four children, Tim (Linda), Jim (Jake), David (Liane) and Debbie (Byron) as well as her eight grandchildren, Leah (Robert), Matthew (Angela), Jace (Joelle), Evan (Michelle), Bryn, Meaghan (Omar), Courtney and Shae. Mom was blessed to have five great-grandchildren, Taylor, Robert IV, Avery Jo, Lily and Charlotte.

Mom responded to tough family situations with fierce compassion and steely resolve. There was no stopping her when she felt a loved one was in need. After her father died in 1964, she insisted that our Grandma Corrie live with us in Regina to ensure Grandma would not be lonely and would be looked after till the end of her life. Mom went into a kind of supermom mode, spending most of every minute of her day researching, planning and making the most delicious and nutritious meals she could think of. She was a wonderful homemaker, and in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s she was into jogging and learning about health food and yoga. She even taught yoga to her girlfriends every week. She was truly ahead of her time. Home-made granola, soup, and bread (oh those cinnamon buns!) were made every week. When her youngest daughter turned eighteen, she decided to seek part-time work. She found a job as a salesclerk at Woodward’s in Calgary, and for many years, we saw a lot of Woodward’s boxes under the Christmas tree. She had so much fun at that job and she made good friends. It was a joy to visit her at work just to get in on the action.   

When Dad retired in 1986 from Imperial Oil, and later when Mom retired from Woodward’s, they enjoyed many years of travelling. Their favourite place was Kihei, Maui, but really it did not matter where they went. Whether it was Banff, Kananaskis or Italy, they always had fun together.  Mom participated in several half-marathon walking races. She won first place in her age group of 70+ in the half-marathon walking race in Calgary in 2005 and 2006. We were so proud of her! Mom was so much fun, we will all miss her laugh, and she never took herself too seriously. She was truly the life of the party. She loved to have everyone over for family gatherings. She was a great cook. She had so many great recipes that Dad printed her recipes out into a binder called “Marge’s Good Eats”!

Although we have been grieving the loss of our dear mom due to dementia for nine years, it was so hard to say good-bye to you Mom. You did good Mom, you and Dad raised four children with such love and commitment, and we were not always an easy bunch! You and Dad were the most supportive parents ever. You came to all our activities it did not matter what we were involved in. You were always there for us. Although we will miss you so much, we know you are with Dad laughing and dancing together as we have seen so many times. 

Many thanks to Dr. Shannon Pfeiffer and all the nursing and health care staff at AgeCare Glenmore. Mom and Dad were in long-term care for almost two years. We can not thank Mirsada Jurisic enough for helping us keep them together in the same room.
 
In living memory of Marge Werry, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis and Holloway Funeral Homes, Fish Creek Chapel, 14441 Bannister Road S.E. Telephone: 403-243-8200.