Marge Station passed away in the evening of August 9, 2020, in the Transition Ward at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital and so ended the life of one amazing independent woman.
Marge was born in a small town in England and came to Canada as a young middle-child of 3 with her father and mother. They settled on a farm in a rural area outside of Calgary.
Marge voluntarily enlisted with the Canadian Army and served in Calgary, Alberta during World War II. She was a "Driver I.C." for the Canadian Women's Army Corps and was discharged on May 22, 1946 to return to civilian life on demobilization.
Marge had a full life and did not leave too many stones unturned. She eventually moved to Victoria, BC where she met and married Walter ("Wally") Station. They had one daughter, Linda. While in Victoria, Marge became a reservist with the Bay Street Armory. Every May she would be in the Victoria Day Parade either marching or driving a truck in army uniform.
Marge and Wally moved to Duncan, BC in 1968 and bought a small hobby farm. Marge resurrected some of the farming skills she learned as a child. She was also a pretty good shot with .22 and would sit up all night by the hen house picking off the marauding raccoons.
Marge's working career was primarily in the food preparation industry. She relocated to Vancouver after the war and worked at Jackson Meats on West 4th Avenue and then subsequently moved to Victoria. In 1958, Marge and her long-time friend, Ida, purchased "Norma's Pastry Shop" at 1867 Oak Bay Avenue, which they operated for a couple of years and then it was sold.
Marge did seasonal work for Oakland Industries which included processing herring roe and heading up the salmon canning processing line. She worked for a short time at the Downtown Hudson's Bay in the children's department. Marge also drove a bakery van for Brodie's Bakery in Victoria delivering product around the city.
While in Duncan, she worked for a local bakery on Trunk Road. Then in the later 1970's, she decided to try her hand at a more traditional job for women and worked in the office at the Village Green Hotel. This was, however, short-lived. The office layout meant several women worked in an open area. Protocol was when the male manager walked into the area, the women had to immediately stop what they were doing and stand up to acknowledge him. Marge made it clear that there was no way in hell she was dropping whatever she was doing and stand up just because a man walked into the room, and quit. Later on, Marge would commute from Duncan to St. Jean's Fish Plant in Nanaimo doing seasonal work.
Wally got very ill and was moved to Long Term Care in Nanaimo so Marge sold the farm and bought her condo in Nanaimo. Wally eventually passed away. Marge had a fantastic time in Nanaimo and quickly found many wonderful friends there; a lot of whom she out-lived.
Marge was a Sendial Volunteer for Thrifty Foods for many years. She also sold poppies for the Legion before Remembrance Day. She baked for friends and, when she was still driving, was always ready to take one of her friends wherever they needed to go. Another passion of Marge's was crib and euchre. She was always up for a game anywhere anytime. She made countless friends over a deck of cards.
Marge's birthday parties were legendary. Her daughter and son-in-law, Linda and Tom, would cater the event. Marge and her guests would sit back and enjoy the service, all the while chomping at the bit for the main event: a euchre tournament.
Those friendships Marge had really kept her going. Her strong indomitable spirit was ever present but always with a smile and giggle.
This past June and July, her wonderful friends dutifully showed up at NRGH every week so a visit could be held with Marge through a tall narrow window.
Marge lived her life as she wished and when it was clear to her that she could no longer do that - she said she was done and she was.
Here's to a life well lived. No service by request. Although if you'd like to have a toast to Marge, then please raise a glass of rum and coke and start up a game of euchre. She would love that.
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