Marjorie Isabella Adams

Marjorie Isabella Wade was born in Greenock, Scotland in 1933 to William and Rose. She was the youngest and had six siblings (Willie, Walter, Rose, Betty, Catherine and John). As a child during the Second World War, she remembers carrying her gas mask everywhere and hiding in an air raid shelter when Greenock (a port and ship building city) was being bombed. Despite rationing, Mum’s sense of style started as a young woman and was maintained all of her life!

Marjorie and her best friend Harriet emigrated to Canada in 1956 sailing up the St. Lawrence Seaway, arriving in the Port of Montreal. Her first job was working in the office of Wellesely Hospital and at night at a movie theatre concession in Toronto. A life long Anglican she met her husband Donald at the Church of the Good Shepherd. They were both active members of the Anglican Young People’s Association. Church has been a constant part of Marjorie’s life since she was a young girl. In challenging times throughout her life her faith has sustained her.

During their ten years of marriage they welcomed three children - Joy, Felicity and Wade. Marjorie spent the majority of her life in Brandon, Manitoba and was a proud new Canadian who fell in love with the Prairies. Our Canadian farm family - Dick, Ed, Alf and Janet - were very important to her and loved her dearly. She had a very fulfilling life teaching yoga, selling Avon, volunteering with the NDP, Big Sisters, Amnesty International, Tools for Peace, the Canadian Mental Health Association, Citizen Advocacy and many social justice groups. She worked in the field of early childhood education and finished her career as the parish administrator at St. Matthew’s Cathedral in Brandon. Her interests included Jazz, movies, books, embroidery, jam making, baking, tennis, Scottish country dancing, acting, and hosting dinner parties, Scrabble games and the cocktail hour!

She retired to Nanaimo in 2000 and jumped right into volunteering as President of her Strata Council, churchwarden, pastoral visitor and fundraiser at St. Paul’s Anglican Church and volunteer at Loaves & Fishes Community Food Bank. Helping others was a life long calling.

Marjorie dearly loved her children: Joy (Chester), Felicity (Carol) and Wade are so proud of her and her legacy. She leaves behind many family members and friends in Scotland, England and Canada.

A funeral in thanksgiving for the life of Marjorie will be held at St. Paul’s Anglican Church in downtown Nanaimo on Saturday, November 14 at 1 pm. Her ashes will be interred in the Columbarium at St. Matthew’s Cathedral in Brandon in Spring 2027. Donations in memory of Marjorie can be made to Amnesty International or Doctors without Borders.