Marjorie Ann Fraser

She was born in the farmhouse of her grandparents, Henry and Margareta (Giesbrecht) Wiebe, moving shortly thereafter to their home in Lowe Farm. Although her father’s job with the CNR and a short stint in the army during WW2 took him away from home, the family stayed put in Lowe Farm where Marjorie spent the first 18 years of her life.

Life revolved around school, church, home and community. Upon entering High School, Marj learned how to be a good student and graduated from Lowe Farm Collegiate in 1960. She graduated from the St. Boniface School of Nursing as an RN in 1964. After working a short time at the Altona Hospital, she entered the U of M, graduating with her degree in nursing in 1967. She was then employed by the St. Boniface School of Nursing as an instructor.

In 1971, after deciding the love, devotion, and respect they had for each other should be a lifetime commitment, Marj and Jim Fraser were married.

With the birth of David in 1973 and Jim in 1975, she became a stay at home mom. She was the consummate hockey, baseball, football, and rugby mom, as well as volunteering in the community, Fort Garry Life Information Centre, and at the school, helping with fundraisers and in the library. Sometimes to the chagrin of her boys, she was a chaperone on the bus for field trips to track and field events or hockey tournaments.

Marjorie adapted quickly to Jim’s passion for building, electrical work and plumbing. They worked side by side on many projects including hanging foil wallpaper. She was, however, known to lament that “Marriage vows did not include laying an acre of quarry tile together.”

After the boys were in school, she accepted part time contract employment as a teacher at Red River College, an assistant to professors in the fields of Human Ecology, Architecture, and Pharmacy. This left her with the time to be available to her husband, sons, parents, and parents-in-law whenever they needed her.

When lovingly teased about being a “kept woman,” because her contribution to the family income was not up to her potential, she remarked, “No, I believe it is I who am the keeper.”

She was very proud of her sons and their achievements and often wondered what she had done right to deserve such great sons when she felt her own parenting style might not have always been perfect. She also loved and approved of her sons’ choices for their lifetime partners.

Plans for retirement were cruelly interrupted with Jim’s diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease in 2010. They were still able to do some of the things on their bucket list, with cruises to Hawaii and Alaska, a trip to Arizona, Mexico, and numerous excursions to the Mountains.

Marj lovingly cared for Jim at home until the care became 24/7 at which point, in 2015, he entered personal care. Marj sold the house and moved into a 55 plus rental apartment in 2017. Her own heart issues began in 2016.

The arrival of her grandchildren gave her a new direction and she rejoiced with the birth of each one. She was very proud of all their achievements and enjoyed attending their activities like hockey, basketball, baseball, curling, cycling, band, guitar, and other music concerts. She also loved theatre and drama productions even when they were in French and she couldn’t understand a single word.

Marjorie passed away on July 18, 2019, surrounded by those who loved her. She was predeceased by her parents and parents-in-law, as well as one sister in infancy.

She is survived by her husband Jim; her sons, David (Joanne) and Jim (Darcie); five grandchildren, Jayden, Keelan, Tylie, Kaylee, and Tavis. She is also survived by her brothers, Bob (Aurea), Allan (Lynn), Leonard (Elfrieda) and Doug (Joanne Fidler); sisters, Rose Kieper, Janice (Jack) Penner, and Roxanne (Mark) Meaney; brothers-in-law Bill (Shirley) Fraser and Jim Kieper. She has many nieces and nephews to mourn her passing as well as great nieces and nephews and has recently become a great great aunt. She also leaves many friends. She will be sorely missed by all.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Manitoba or to the Alzheimer’s Society.