Marjorie Plaskett

Marjorie Pearl Mortimore was born on August 14, 1918 at the homestead in Thessalon, Ontario. The youngest of 10 for her parents Louisa and John Mortimore. Marjorie was raised and grew up in Thessalon on a farm where she learned to milk cows along with a long list of chores. She developed a strong work ethic and a stubbornness showing it was her way or no way. It has been said she inherited these traits from her mother, Louisa. It wasn’t always all work on the farm though. Marjorie was known to have chased a rooster or two around and could remember hiding behind the wood stove at night until all her siblings were in bed before coming out. She was educated to grade 8 in a one room classroom that she would help her mother clean every weekend. Marjorie was blessed with a large family of 7 brothers and 2 sisters, Gordon, Tom, Bill, Bob, Fred, George, Gladys, Francis and Frank. She nurtured and maintained close relationships with her siblings, having a very special and close bond with her sister Francis. Having lived through difficult times, childhood illnesses, and deaths she became a compassionate and loving person who would always think of others before herself and would ensure no one did without. Family was always a priority for Marjorie. So it was no surprise when she met a man that sang to her heart and she would get married and be blessed with her own family.

On September 9, 1936 Marjorie exchanged vows with Walter Wilfred Plaskett at the Justice of the Peace. She was introduced as Mrs. Marjorie Plaskett from then on. She met her future husband through a friend who knew Walter. Introducing them at a party where Walter was playing his music. Together they would play music at house parties in and around the town of Thessalon. Walter was on the guitar, banjo or fiddle and Marjorie on the Hawaiian guitar. Soon they were blessed with six children, Pearl, Margaret, Virginia, Sylvia, Wilfred and Mary. Marjorie birthed almost all of her children at home with her mom as her midwife. They had moved to Sault Ste. Marie and eventually to their house on Second Line West. An unfortunate fire took the family home and Walter rebuilt the house that is currently on Second Line. Marjorie would take the ferry to the United States to get nails but there was a limit so she could only bring back so many at a time. She made sure she was helpful and jumped right in even with building the house. Falling through the drywall and hanging from the rafters was all in a day’s work and didn’t discourage her. When constructing the basement she climbed into the trenches and tarred the walls until a neighbour took over. Marjorie loved to reminisce about that one floor house with the huge kitchen. But regardless of what house she was in she would always make it a home.

When Marjorie’s children were growing up she became friends with a young girl named Ella Mae White, who helped her with the kids often walking with them to school and was good company for Marjorie. Marjorie made friends wherever she was. Her soft spoken voice and sweet demeanor made it easy to befriend her. She also possessed a great quality of being an exceptional listener, although her hearing was selective at times. Marjorie was also good to her neighbours, always lending a hand. Neighbours remember Marjorie’s house was the first in the neighbourhood to have a black and white TV and they would gather there to watch it.

Marjorie and her sister, Francis, stayed at each other’s houses and Marjorie helped clean and do yard work on occasion. Marjorie travelled with Francis by plane and bus to visit Francis’s daughters Molly in Pennsylvania and Peggy in Dryden and Terrance Bay. She would also visit Francis’s daughter Betty with her daughter Mary at Christmas. Marjorie took a vacation to Arizona for a month once with Bud and Rose that she really enjoyed and even visited Mexico. She enjoyed bonding with one of her special nieces Nancy over discussions of flower gardening. She was fond of her son-in-laws Buddy and Ricky and was always quick to come to their defence should her daughters have a complaint. She helped her son-in-law Jack with sleigh ride parties in the shack for many winters. She enjoyed the company of good friends Jan and Bob.

You would find Marjorie and her family at Beleau’s Place, Barbary Coast and Basswood Lake at various times throughout the summers in the early years. You knew when you saw that truck filled and Mom’s mattress being loaded on top that it was time to go camping! Dirt floor tents, campfires and music. Marjorie wasn’t fond of the water or boating. In fact she would tell you she hated camping! But she brought her children camping and to the beach/water year after year. You wouldn’t catch her past her knees in the water and only in a boat with a knee length, full sleeve life preserver zippered up to her chin and a white knuckled death grip to the edge but nothing was stopping her. When Marjorie got a bee in her bonnet there was no shaking it until she got her way. The kids looked forward to yearly visits to Uncle Bob’s farm too. Marjorie was very family oriented and took great pride in family get-togethers.

In later years you would find Marjorie camping in Goulais Bay, Spruce Lake and most recently St. Joseph’s Island. The tents were put away however and she moved up to the trailer. And she had to admit she now loved camping and looked forward to it every summer. She was notorious for her get-ups and hats. Some really stick with you. Picture a lady in a fluorescent coloured ball cap and attire sitting in a folding chair armed with a super-soaker and that was Marjorie in Goulais Bay. That was only when she wasn’t in her rocking chair under her awning watching the grandkids play. She would be seen wearing her big straw hats with the wide brims. She rode the train to Spruce Lake, often with her grandchildren. That’s if Pearl and Ron weren’t portaging through the Quintet lakes to get there. She was in her 80’s when she was riding on the back of snow machines, bundled up in her snowsuit and tuque. She was known to have jumped out of the infamous green machine faster than the speed of light when it stalled on top of a hill with Pearl and Ron. If it was going down it wasn’t going to be taking her with it. Any given day at St. Joe’s you could find Marjorie just a swinging on the swing outside by the campfire pit or in her rocking chair on the deck. She also enjoyed her visits to Lakeside Trailer Park in Thessalon to visit her daughter, Margie and son-in-law Buddy.

When she was at home but her daughter Pearl was at camp, she would send out Q 104’s camp calls over the radio. One week she wouldn’t be on the train because she had to work. The next week there was a change in plans and she’d see you the following week. Just to let her daughter know everything was ok and not to worry about her. Marjorie did enough worrying for everyone. She was even adamant with her granddaughter, Tammy, that she was calling the camp calls line when she repeatedly dialed Tammy’s phone number and argued the point until laughing about it later.

Marjorie dedicated her life to being a mother and wife. She taught her children how to be independent and not depend on others, how to provide for your family and be generous and kind to others. She was good with her money and knew the meaning of a dollar and could stretch it out. Providing for her family and she would do without in order to give. She was a good cook. It wasn’t fancy but it filled you up. She was known to have made the meals for her children’s wedding receptions. She did down jars of jams and pickles too to have on hand. She was infamous for making the best Christmas cake in the world! She made a pretty mean bean salad too that would be at every potluck occasion. In recent years she made bread, often for family, in her bread-maker. White bread or raisin bread was her specialties. Later on in her life she began to have memory lapses with the ingredients and a loaf of bread would turn into a mini loaf and she would say “I don’t know what happened?” and then she would realize she forgot to put in the yeast making light of it and laughing and eating it anyway.

Marjorie loved watching her sports. Unless you were talking about a Toronto sports team, then she would hear no part of it unless you were telling her they were losing. Meeting Ken and Mary at Fred’s Trailer Park in recent years gave Marjorie the opportunity to bet with Ken and take a lot of his money. It gave her something to look forward to, be excited about and a reason not to leave the room when Toronto was playing on TV. She also loved Bingo and used to go regularly with her daughter, Margie. She also looked forward to her card nights to play rummoli and when she was unable to go to card night her family brought it to her house and she provided the drink and snacks. She was often caught sneaking money to those that were running a little low. And in her last years would laugh when she would realize she had a card in her hand she was supposed to play a few rounds back. But whatever you do don’t bring out the card shuffler. At one time she had season’s tickets to watch the Greyhound’s play hockey. When the rink became a little too cold for her she enjoyed listening to the games on the radio in the comfort of her home.

Marjorie was blessed with 14 grandchildren, Scotty, Patrick, Walter, Tammy, Shawn, Pamela, Deborah, Jennifer, Michael, Paul, Jason, Krista, Brandie and Matthew, 27 great grandchildren, Scotty Jr. ,Jacob, Cole, Anna, Marc, Robin, Scotty Jr., Kaila, Kevin, Scott, Ashley, Jesse, Cory, Dalton, Colton, Logan, Kylie, Carter, Kadin, Chelsey, Kyran, Dylan, Leah and 5 great great grandchildren, Dean, Connor, Matthew, Emily and Tailor. She was extremely proud of her grandchildren. She showered them with love and attention. She frequented all the sports games to cheer you on. She looked forward to your phone call or visit. She never missed a birthday, graduation, anniversary or special day. She frequently babysat. The door was always open and sleepovers were always welcome. She supported every school function and fundraiser. For years she would spend Christmas Eve with her grandchildren so she could wake up with them and watch them open their gifts from Santa. She always surrounded herself with pictures of her family too.

Marjorie kept pets through the years. Her favourite was a Boston Terrier named Pepper who stayed by her side for approximately 10years.

Marjorie was armed with a great wit and a terrific sense of humour. Constantly getting her digs in when you’d least expect it.

Marjorie volunteered her time to the Cancer Society for over 10 years. Politically, Marjorie was NDP. Marjorie’s hobbies included reading, especially harlequin romance novels, knitting, shopping, buying Avon, bingo and playing cards. She enjoyed getting her tea leaves and tarot cards read. She would have you write down everything that was said so she could talk with you about it later. She loved the sing-alongs when friends and family would get together to play the guitars and sing. Amazing Grace and Seven Spanish Angels would be guaranteed on the song list. Whether it was around the camp fire or in her living room she couldn’t get enough of it. She liked to order out and especially craved the Rigatoni Au Gratin from Aurora’s or a hot chicken sandwich with gravy. Lots of gravy. And the occasional glass of gin or wine. She drank tea daily. Marjorie was the dish washer. She would always wash the dishes right after the meals in scorching hot water. (She had a very high tolerance to pain.) It was unacceptable to leave any dirty dishes hanging around.

Marjorie had her share of health scares, surviving 2 heart attacks and a number of broken bones. When the doctor told her she would likely never walk again after having broken her leg she was determined she would and when she put her mind to it there was nothing she couldn’t do. And walk she did, surprising her doctor and proving him wrong. When her family expressed concerns about her travelling after her heart attacks she told them what was meant to be would be and nothing was going to stop her from doing what she wanted to do. This go-get it attitude contributed to her full life. Marjorie had a life full of love and laughter, family and friends, memories and music.

Marjorie’s daughter, Pearl, was her primary care giver for 15 years of Marjorie’s golden years. Enabling her to remain in her own home and securing her sense of independence. When Marjorie progressed into her 90’s her mind was still as sharp as a whip but her body wasn’t keeping up and she began to slow down. After 90 some years of hard work she needed a break. Through Pearl’s dedication and care Marjorie was able to continue to have a good quality of life and still get the rest her body needed. Pearl attended all of the doctor appointments and tests with her and explained everything in detail to her, displaying a ton of patience and kindness. Daughter’s Margie and Mary would relieve Pearl at times so Marjorie was never alone.

Through the winter of 2011 Marjorie knew she had her grandson’s weddings to attend in the summer of 2012. She was looking forward to them and waiting for the snow to melt because that meant camping at St. Joe’s with her daughter, Pearl. Something she really looked forward to. These things got her through the long winter. She went to St. Joe’s and camped in the early summer when it was warm enough to her liking. She attended her grandson Matt’s wedding in June of 2012 and looked beautiful in purple and socialized with family and friends. She decided she would go to stay with her daughter, Mary for a week at the end of June saying she wanted to give Pearl a break. Marjorie was complaining of feeling tired the last year or so. She always enjoyed her afternoon naps but was sleeping for much longer periods now. She was falling occasionally but seemingly more frequently in the last few months. Her intake was poor the last year and was becoming a challenge as Marjorie was losing weight on her already small frame.

Marjorie talked about her angels. She had for years. She shared stories about her dreams and sometimes looked them up to see what they might mean. She described one dream of running through fields of flowers with her sister, Francis, who was free from her raised boot and crutches and wearing pants. She talked to her parents in her dreams. She believed in God and was a spiritual person.

An impromptu visit with her daughter, Margie at the Thessalon Trailer Park, with daughter Mary, was an enjoyable day on July 1.

Getting notably weaker but never losing her determination she was surrounded by her family daily for the month to come. Marjorie’s youngest daughter, Mary took over her daily care. A Palliate Care Team was put in place and everything that Marjorie would need to maintain her privacy and comfort was established. Granddaughters Krista, Brandie, Tammy and son-in-law Ricky helped daily with care. Sleeping peacefully and getting up for short periods to enjoy her company. She continued to joke and laugh despite her lack of energy. She managed to scrunch up her face and stick out her tongue at her son-in-law Ricky when he would jokingly tell her she knew where the tea was and to go get it herself. She would ask where the grandkids were if she couldn’t see them and she always told you how she felt. She was never one to mince words. You knew if you ticked her off and you knew she loved you because she would tell you. Her daughter Mary was told to “get off my bed” quite often that month. And “that’s enough” was popular when she was eating. And she pointed out that “The Dr said I don’t have to eat” after watching The Dr’s show on TV. She made sure her card was going to get to her Grandson, Jason and although unable to leave the house she was thinking of him on his wedding day. Pictures of her family surrounded her bed between fresh flowers and the Happy Face Balloon that bounced around the head of her bed. Angel figurines and blooming vases telling her to have a beautiful day were on her table beside her Kleenex. Marjorie always had Kleenex tucked away in her pockets and sleeves. Music always played in the background and a jam-session was arranged with her son, Willy and grandson Jason on guitars singing all the good songs she loved. She was content to listen to all the conversations going on in the room and as always, never wanted to miss a thing.

Marjorie taught us things even now, showing us love and appreciation through these difficult weeks. This included practicing patience, understanding and forgiveness. She also showed us to not be afraid of dying or death, maintaining her dignity until her last breath June 30th, 2012 in her 94th year. At which time she left this world to reunite with her family in heaven. Leaving behind her legacy and moving on to a new journey.

With a lifetime of memories we were all blessed to have known Marjorie in her many roles she played as Mother, Mimi, Old Crow, Nana, Grandma, Great Grandma, Great Great Grandma, Aunt, Cousin, Mother-in-Law, Friend and the Amazing Person she truly was.

Remembered Always & Forever in our hearts. Marjorie Plaskett 1918-2012.

PLASKETT, Marjorie (Mortimore) – August 14, 1918 – July 30, 2012- Mom died peacefully at home with family by her side. Loving wife of the late Walter. Adored mother of Pearl McLean (Ron) (late Scotty), Margaret McLean (Buddy), Virginia Lamming (late Jack), Sylvia Coulam (Gary), Willy (Bettyanne) and Mary Parker (Richard). Grandmother of 31. Great grandmother of 27 and great great grandmother of 5. Daughter of the late John and Louisa Mortimore. Predeceased by 7 brothers and 2 sisters. Also survived by many nieces and nephews. Special thanks to Dr. Fraser, Dr. Mukherjee and Dr. Yee. Nurses Gale, Alissa and Laura of Avera and Gloria – Palliative Care Manger of Com-Care for their excellent help and care. Last but not least a thank you to our sister Mary Parker and her helpers; nieces, Krista, Brandi, Tammy and Richard Parker for their expert care and abiding by mom’s wishes to remain at home. Friends may call at the Arthur Funeral Home & Cremation Centre on Thursday, August 2, 2012 from 11 am until time of funeral service at 1 pm. Pastor Gene Monin officiating. Interment Greenwood Cemetery. Memorial contributions to the charity of your choice would be greatly appreciated.

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PLASKETT, Marjorie (Mortimore) – August 14, 1918 – July 30, 2012- Mom died peacefully at home with family by her side. Loving wife of the late Walter. Adored mother of Pearl McLean (Ron) (late Scotty), Margaret McLean (Buddy), Virginia Lamming (late Jack), Sylvia Coulam (Gary), Willy (Bettyanne) and Mary Parker (Richard). Grandmother of 31. Great grandmother of 27 and great great grandmother of 5. Daughter of the late John and Louisa Mortimore. Predeceased by 7 brothers and 2 sisters. Also survived by many nieces and nephews. Special thanks to Dr. Fraser, Dr. Mukherjee and Dr. Yee. Nurses Gale, Alissa and Laura of Avera and Gloria – Palliative Care Manger of Com-Care for their excellent help and care. Last but not least a thank you to our sister Mary Parker and her helpers; nieces, Krista, Brandi, Tammy and Richard Parker for their expert care and abiding by mom’s wishes to remain at home. Friends may call at the Arthur Funeral Home & Cremation Centre on Thursday, August 2, 2012 from 11 am until time of funeral service at 1 pm. Pastor Gene Monin officiating. Interment Greenwood Cemetery. Memorial contributions to the charity of your choice would be greatly appreciated.