Marjorie Evelyn Gray

Marjorie is survived by her laughter Charmaine (Carl) McKnight and by her son Bruce Gray. Marjorie was a loving nana to her five grandchildren: Michael (Ana) McKnight, Allyson McKnight, (Jordan) Jeffrey (Katrina) McKnight, Rachel (Thomas) MacDougall, and Liam Gray. Marjorie was a doting nana II to seven great grandchildren: Locklyn, Leo, Hazel, Audrey, Evelyn, Brielle, and Cohen. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews.

Marjorie was predeceased by her parents Frederick and Faye Vroom (1937 and 1998) by a brother Frederick (1937), her husband William Henry Gray (1982), a son, Duncan Alexander Gray (1999), a sister Lena Vroon (2003), a brother Weldon Vroom (2012) and daughter-in-law Laureen McCuthcheon Gray (2020).

Marjorie was born on 17 October 1929 to Frederick and Faye Vroom in Rosedale, New Brunswick. The family moved to Fredericton after her father’s death where Marjorie and her siblings attended school. After graduating high school, Marjorie entered the Victoria Public Hospital training as a registered nurse. Upon graduating Marjorie accepted a position nursing at the hospital in Hamilton, Bermuda, then moved to Niagara Falls where she worked at the Jepson Street Hospital and then later at GNG.

In 1953, Marjorie met William Gray at a party and the couple wed in the spring of 1956 settling in Niagara Falls, New York. During the early years of her marriage Marjorie worked at several physicians’ offices as their nurse until she secured a full-time position working at St. Mary’s Manor in Niagara Falls New York where she remained until her retirement in 1986. In 1968 the family moved to Niagara Falls Ontario, but Marjorie continued to work stateside.

Our mom continued to work full time while raising three children. To be there for us during the day while our dad worked, she took the midnight shift, meaning she was often sleepy, but we were always her priority. Mom was the dance, hockey, soccer, school trip chaperone, and bake sale mom.

Mom made friends easily. Through her training as a nurse, she could elicit information quickly and retain it. She knew all her neighbours and kept in touch with many of them over the years. She kept in touch with high school and nursing friends and could tell you the names of their children. She was our family historian.

Mom loved animals, especially cats. She fed them, found homes for them or took them in. In her neighborhood of over forty years, she was known as the ‘Cat Woman’ a title she cherished.

Mom loved to knit and crochet, creating rugs, blankets and items we didn’t know could be crocheted. Knitting needles and bags of yarn were accessories in our home.

Mom liked to travel as well. Every year she drove to New Brunswick to see her family, so many times that the three of us kids thought of New Brunswick as our second home. She was especially fond of Bermuda visiting several times but also toured Europe and enjoyed a Caribbean cruise.

Mom was our confidant, our cheerleader and our supporter for so many years that it is hard to imagine a life without her. We were fortunate to have her with us until the end. We will miss her, but we know that she would want us to carry on in her memory.

Special thanks to the staff at Ontario Health at Home the Palliative Care EMS crew for their support. Also, thanks to the staff at Hetherington and Deans and the NRP.

A celebration of life will be held on 18 May 2025 at 6077 Mountaingate Drive, Niagara Falls from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Project Share.

Fond memories, special photographs and condolences may be shared below.