Maria Eugenie (DeGeest) Cain

On November 20, 1944, at age 19, Maria became a war bride, marrying 38-year-old Canadian Army Major Douglas Cain, who was stationed in Belgium. It was a storybook romance. One day, the burgemeester ‘s son knocked on the door to request the presence of the beautiful DeGeest girls at a dance and celebration for the Canadian officers who had liberated Belgium. That night Maria met Douglas Cain. He proposed that very same night and the next day, as Doug marched past in a liberation parade, Maria said “YES!” A month later they were married even though she did not speak English and he did not speak Flemish. However, they somehow managed to communicate and their first child, Noreen, was born in Belgium in January 1946. At the end of WWII, Doug returned to Winnipeg to set up a home and the following year Maria and baby Noreen set sail to join him. It was there Maria taught herself English and began teaching, first in the Manitoba Home for Girls and later in various Winnipeg high schools. In 1973 Maria and Doug retired to Victoria and Maria was widowed in 1976 after a beautiful 32-year marriage that should never have worked!

In 1989, Maria married retired Anglican Bishop Reginald Pierce, another marriage made in heaven. They travelled and adventured and doted on each other until Reg’s death in 1992. Maria often expressed her gratitude for the two exceptional, kind, loving men in her life.

Maria was a dedicated, supportive mother, a well-loved and respected teacher, a talented seamstress, and a do-it-yourselfer, as comfortable with a hammer as she was with a sewing machine. With her vibrant energy and love for life, she easily made many friends. She was a gracious hostess and the life of the party, loved by all. She spoke fluent Flemish, French and English, and a good deal of German. She never lost her lovely Flemish accent. She was brilliant at crosswords, and she could beat everyone at Wheel of Fortune. Above all, her children always came first.

Maria lived through WWII and the Great Depression, the Holocaust, and the Cold War. As a young wife and mother, she emigrated to a strange country, learned a new language, and became a teacher. Her time on this earth overlapped with Amelia Earhart, Bonnie and Clyde, Al Capone, and Albert Einstein. She saw the first TV, the first home computer, and the first cel phone. She witnessed the moon landing, 9/11 and she survived the Winnipeg flood and Covid. Maria endured her lengthy illness as she did all life challenges – with extreme courage, stoic resolve, and dignity. She never complained.

Maria is lovingly remembered by daughters Noreen Atwood (Bill) and Nicky Cain; daughter-in-law Isabel Cain; grandchildren Erin, David, Alison, Christy, and Tory; and sister Anita Van Walleghem.

Predeceased by husbands Douglas Cain and Reginald Pierce; son Robert Douglas; son-in-law Godfrey Knox; and sisters Elza, Alma, Hilda (Lula), Godelieve, and Laura.

The family would like to express their deep gratitude to Maria’s home care doctor Nahid Khan, her case manager Elodie Bruton and all the CLSC staff for their caring and professional help, and to the dedicated staff and volunteers of the Teresa Dellar Palliative Care Centre for their amazing care during Maria's last days.

Funeral service August 24 1:30 pm at St. Patrick’s Catholic Parish, 2060 Haultain St, Victoria, BC followed by a garden reception to celebrate Maria’s life at Nicky’s home at 1735 Green Oaks Terrace.

The family would love to receive shared memories of Maria to include in the family memory book.