Marjorie Marene Mitchell

May 16, 1935 - December 23, 2023

Her life wasn’t an easy one. Born to Polish Ukrainian parents May 16, 1935, Marjorie Mitchell (nee Dumniak) learned at any early age to be self-sufficient and how to take care of her younger siblings. She found some solace while spending summers with her cousins at a farm away from her troubled city life. Her love for gardening bloomed during these trips, which became a lifelong year-round passion. During the summer she could always be found in her garden spraying, watering, pruning and talking to her botanical friends. Her rose garden was truly world class and could have easily won many awards if she only had entered a competition. Autumn brought the planting of tulip bulbs and then figuring out how to keep the squirrels from moving them around. Chicken wire and driftwood became her tools of choice. In the winter her front bay window, and every other windowsill in the house, was overflowing with snipping’s of geraniums which she nurtured until the spring planting. In the springtime, her potted plants would come out on a daily basis, providing the temperatures cooperated, to acclimatize to the outdoors. There they would sit the front porch breathing in fresh air of the new season to begin the cycle of life once again.

Her high school years at Central Technical School in downtown Toronto gave her the skills she would perfect throughout her life. Marge became a wizard with the sewing machine and a very accomplished seamstress. Her children rarely saw store bought clothes as she made practically everything they wore. Her best work was in the creation of wedding gowns for her daughters. All three gowns were unique and simply stunning. She spent many painstaking hours cutting, fitting, and sewing both by hand and machine. It was a true labour of love. Although she didn’t use the words to say so, her love was shown in her sacrifices made for her children.

In her high school home economic classes, she mastered meal planning, cooking, baking and how to throw a dinner party. Marge would quite often find herself hosting family dinners with extended family members during the major holidays. Every time she hosted a dinner she was at ease in her kitchen and with her guests. She made everything she did seem so effortless.

In her teen years, many happy hours were spent going to dances and movies with her friends and cousins. It was when she became a majorette for the marching band at Central Tech that Marjorie caught the eye of one Douglas Mitchell.

They were married in 1956 on October 27th. As with most marriages in the 50’s, children followed. Kelly Mitchell, Tracy MacInnis (Peter), Jody Strack (George James), and Jeffrey Mitchell (Michelle). And then, of course, came the grandchildren Cameron MacInnis (Morgan Sainte), Sara Schafer (Rory), Ian MacInnis (Margaret Couling), Kathryn MacInnis, Grace Hepburn (Mike Chin), Stephen Strack (Ashley Patoine), Emma Strack (Dillion Gilmar), Summer Mitchell and Jaiden Mitchell. And finally, great grandchildren, Charlie MacInnis, Violet and Walter Schafer.

The pain she endured in her later years due to spinal stenosis, osteoporosis, scoliosis, arthritis and osteoarthritis was unbearable. In the early years of pain, like all the other problems life threw at her, she suffered in silence. As the years progressed, so did her pain. It got to the point where it became a daily topic of conversation with her children. Conversations always began with “did you sleep” and “are you in a lot of pain today”? But still she persevered and carried on. We knew she was suffering but there wasn't much we could do. Cortisone shots and physiotherapy brought brief moments of relief. The pain always crashed back with a vengeance. Her final social event was at a cookie exchange at her daughter’s house where she spent the evening talking, laughing and enjoying a glass of wine. When she didn’t answer her phone Friday, December 15th, Jody and Tracy went to investigate. Marge was found her in her bed, unable to get out because of the excruciating pain. Paramedics were called and she was taken to North York General Hospital where she spent the rest of her days in the ICU. After a valiant fight for just over a week she finally succumbed to her suffering and passed surrounded by family on December 23, 2023. Many thanks goes out to the wonderful compassionate nurses and doctors of NYGH ICU and emergency who treated Mom with respect and dignity.

A visitation for Marjorie will be held Saturday, December 30, 2023 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Giffen-Mack Funeral Home & Cremation Centre, 4115 Lawrence Ave East, West Hill, ON M1E2S2. A funeral service will occur Saturday, December 30, 2023 at 11:00 AM, 4115 Lawrence Ave East, West Hill, ON M1E2S2. A graveside service will occur Saturday, December 30, 2023 at Resthaven Memorial Gardens, 2700 Kingston Road, Scarborough, ON M1M 1M5.

Contributions in Marjorie's memory may be made to a charity of your choice.