Marie Isbister died peacefully July 26, 2003 after a courageous battle with cancer.
Marie was born April 23, 1927 to Tom and Nina McGowan in Moose Jaw, Sask. Tom's work with C.P. Rail led the family to Kamloops where Marie completed her high school in 1945. As a schoolgirl she and her older sister, Kay, enjoyed many summers visiting with family in Nova Scotia. Mom's Scottish/Nova Scotian heritage was very important to her (Shipbuilder, Donald McKay, was her mother's uncle). She also inherited a love of the outdoors from her father with whom she camped an] fished in the many lakes in the Kamloops area.
Following high school, Mom took her nurses training at Royal Columbia Hospita1 in New Westminster. She maintained lifelong friendships with her graduating class and faithfully attended their reunions at Marge and Ian Paton in Ladner. Thanks to you all for your faithful friendships with Mom for all those years.
On a blind date to the Ice Capades, she was paired up with a red-headed Ag student from U.B.C. Mom was impressed with his courtly, respectful manner and she and Dad were married Aug. 9, 1950. Bob and Marie moved to Chilliwack that fall where Dad had accepted a job teaching in the Agriculture Program at Chilliwack Senior High School. They lived on Hazel Street before moving in 1959 to the house and farm on McSween Rd. where Mom resided until this year. Along the way children arrived; Leslie in 1951, Graeme in 1953, Rob in 1954 and Kerry in 1956.
Mom loved life on the Fairfield Island farm- gardening and canning. She loved to cook and enjoyed the fruits of her efforts. There was also much community involvement with friends in the neighbourhood, swimming lessons at Dayton's Pool, Fall Auctions at the old Fairfield Island Hall, School Christmas concerts and doing props for the Charles Laughton Little Theatre. In the summer there were many camping trips to the Thompson-Chilcotin and visits to Denman Island. Mom loved her time on Denman Island and proudly rented out their beach property to many friends over the years.
When the children were grown, Mom returned to nursing, working in Maternity at the Chilliwack Hospital and for an Insurance firm. She helped out at the Chilliwack Fair for many years, proudly displaying and winning many ribbons for the produce from her garden and orchard. She also loved to travel, maintaining family connections with several trips to Scotland, as well as to South America, Branson, Missouri, and San Francisco. She was also active in the Horticultural Society, Retired Teachers Association, Line dancing and for the past seven years at Broadway M.B. Church. Mom gratefully appreciated the warm Christian fellowship she enjoyed with her friends in the Hagkull Care Group.
Throughout her life, Mom had a zest for life and a childlike sense of fun. She had a wry, self-deprecating wit. She loved parties. Through her late-found and very genuine personal trust in Christ she has now been welcomed into the Great Party.
We would like to thank the many who have been Mom's friends and supported her over the years and especially during her illness: her nursing "sisters", friends on Denman Island, in Chilliwack: Diane S and Bev D., Dr. McLeod, Home Care Nursing, Home Support (the Judys) and Hospice. Special thanks to Verna for living out 1 John 3:18.
She will be remembered by sister Kay (Dave) in Parksville, Les and Glen Badger in Burnaby, Graeme and Verna in Chilliwack, Rob and Aldina in Burnaby and Kerrv and Vickie in Surrey. Grandchildren; Anna, Sarah, David Isbister and Jackie Badger. Sister-in-law; Marnie Ronald (Richard) and brother-in-law Percy Isbister. She was predeceased by her beloved husband, Bob in 1986.
Mom / Marie / Maria / Mac /Nana - your memory will be cherished.
A Memorial Service to celebrate Marie's life will be held at 2:00 pm on Thursdav July 31 at Broadway M.B. Church with Bob Friesen of ficiating. A reception will follow in the church hall. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation for a Marie Isbister Memorial Scholarship, c/o Chilliwack Senior Secondary School.