Her biological parents were of Jamaican descent. Marion Lynette Hughes was later adopted by her foster parents: Reginald William & Doreen Lilian Hughes. She was raised by her parents in Crawley, West Sussex, England. Marion blossomed as a child with intelligence, gusto and laser focus, setting her sights on doing everything possible to improve her life and give back to others.
As an enterprising young student, she started work outside the home at age 14, on her way to achieving financial independence. Never losing sight of her goals, following the completion of High School, she was admitted into The Ivy Lang School of Nursing on Fairfield Road, Crawley to study Nursing, affiliated with Crawley and other county Hospitals.
In Marion’s unique way, she worked and played hard, balancing these so well that she graduated at first attempt of the State Registered Nursing Board Exams for England & Wales. During both High School and Nursing Training, Marion met many lifelong friends. She worked at Guy’s Hospital in London as a Staff Nurse for a short time and quickly set her sights again on a new goal-travel to USA where it is warm and practice Nursing while traveling as well.
So, in 1979, Marion came to the USA with a Legal Work Visa to Holy Cross Hospital, Fort Lauderdale, Florida. After passing her Florida State Boards for Registered Nursing exam, Marion left to work at Doctor’s Hospital, Plantation, Florida. During this time, she continued to advance in her Nursing Career and training. She successfully trained as a Cardiac and Intensive Care Nurse. She has worked in this specialty all her US Nursing Career and in various hospitals in the Metropolis until Cancer and death took her away from us on Friday, the first of November, 2019.
Marion was very proud to be British and kept her British manners and customs. She made her obligatory trip to England every summer and depending on circumstances, she made additional visits. She loved to visit and hang out with her many special friends, never forgetting where she came from. She would visit her old stomping grounds and bring back her home favorite snacks, clothes and cosmetics. Equally intense was her pride and bond with her African Heritage. She was very proud of this and learned as much as she could from other Africans, some of whom had less commitment than her even though they were born and raised in that continent. She also fully embraced her adopted country, the USA where she blossomed and took advantage of the opportunities it had to offer. No wonder that as the end of her life became evident, she chose to be laid to her final resting place in her beloved neighborhood of Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach.
Marion was a consummate professional, an intensive care Nurse of the highest quality and standard. This was her vocation and she practiced it enviably.
She made many friends along the way and had a way of attracting people to her. Marion was a faithful, dependable and trustworthy friend who kept her word and you could always count on in good or bad times. She was both a good listener and a story teller.
As stated already, her life was not only Nursing and travel. She had a passionate love for Tennis and not only played but, was involved with the South Florida groups and circuits. Tennis gave her fulfillment, joy and many special friends-a family away from home. Her other passion was winter Skiing where she made many more special friends.
Marion has touched so many lives with such steadfast love that her death has become an unimaginable loss. Her illness and death have had the side effect of turning her various friends into a community of friends with each other as everyone chipped in to care for her and comfort each other. The pain and suffering are over for Marion and we know that her beautiful soul is at peace. With a very heavy heart we bid her farewell but, will continue to miss her terribly.
Marion is survived by her brothers, Leigh and David Hughes; their wives and children (her nieces and nephews).
On a personal level, there is not enough time or space to detail my relationship with Marion. We met in 1974 in the Nursing School in Crawley, England. Marion was a year behind me at the program but, she stood out in her group and would come to my room to visit and chat. As time went on, she would dance to music in my room, especially Marvin Gaye, Bob Marley, and other related and contemporary music. She also had a passion for Jazz music. We developed a close bond which blossomed into a long lasting friendship for the next 45 years.
Coincidentally, she came into the USA about a year before I did and we lived next door to each other in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. In the course of this friendship, we traveled to many places together. She was there when my first Child, Obi was born with her unsolicited support and love-she is my daughter’s “God Mother”. Both my children know her only as “Aunty Marion”, the name they called her.
During this friendship, I got married, with her as a witness in the county courthouse before traveling to Nigeria for the traditional and Church Wedding. I later went back to College and joined the US Navy. Marion came to every event we had in our family. She visited and spent time at every Duty Station I have been and lived in, including Sicily-Italy. Italian visits were famous for road travels across the island and manic dash into the headquarters of the Fendi business for shopping in Rome.
Every member of my family in the USA and Nigeria loved and regarded Marion as a member of our family and a sister. She knew it as well. Our New Year’s welcome event will never be the same as Marion was always with us wherever we spent the holiday. In the last few years, it was in Pensacola-FL. This was a never-fail shopping adventure to the Coach Store with my two children (Obi & Nd) and me. Our late nights and never ending stories live with me. We had planned her visit this year but, it was not to be.
Marion was a hardworking, determined, faithful, and focused young woman. She was confident and comfortable with herself. She set her goals and knew exactly what she wanted and how to work hard for it. She loved and laughed a lot while maintaining her sense of value and structure, treating everyone she met with respect and in the same way she will like to be treated by them. A very caring and supportive friend and family member. Marion gave a lot to the poor and the needy of various charities, especially, those children undergoing hard times and difficulties. In your pain, Marion, even to the end, you were still asking how everyone was doing, mentioning each person by name.
My family is in deep mourning and can only pray that you are truly at peace, free from pain.
It is left to us to go on. We all have personal and unique relationships with Marion. We settle with our memories we have with her, which lives on.
Goodbye my friend and sister.
Rest in Perfect and Everlasting Peace!!
Chidi (For Her Family & Friends)
Dr Chidiebere U. Ekenna-Kalu, SRN/RN, SCM, OD, PhD, FAAO,
(Aviation/Research Optometrist:); Commander, United States Navy-Retired.
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