Marjorie Armstrong
Nov 29, 1926 – Sep 26, 2019
Marjorie Joan Armstrong left life the way she lived it, with generosity
of sprit and gentle grace. On 26 September 2019, at 92 years old, she passed away in Canmore at Golden Eagle View, after spending several days surrounded by her loved ones.
Born November 29, 1926, in St. Catharines, ON to William and
Janet (Geddes) Taylor on Churches Lane, raised by George and Joanne (Taylor) Swan on Pleasant Ave. Marjorie graduated from
St. Catharines Collegiate, attended Teacher’s College in Hamilton, and taught school in Welland and Byron. She moved to Byron, and then London, ON. with the love of her life Neil, who she had first laid eyes on 10 years earlier, age 12, while harvesting fruit together during the first years of the war.
In 1972 Neil accepted work at the Banff Centre and he and Marjorie moved with their young family to Banff, Alberta. If they had been a socially engaged young couple when Neil was working at the
University of Western Ontario, it was in Banff that Marjorie’s fame
as a hostess truly blossomed. For the next 18 years, Marjorie hosted hundreds of guests each year at her St. Julien Road house.
Marjorie’s great warmth of spirit shone brightest not with famous short-term guests, but rather with those who came to her home to stay awhile. They might be strangers without lodging she had met that day at Rundle United Church, or more often, friends of her children. We are not talking normal sleepovers here, some stayed for weeks or months, one for a couple of years, and one stayed over a decade and, indeed, became part of the family. When they could no longer look after themselves, older relatives moved in too, including her aunt, Sybil, her father, George, and her mother-in-law, Beatrice.
Marjorie & Neil built a house in Canmore, and moved there from Banff in December 1991. Then, when Neil retired, Marjorie thought she might get out of the house some more and took a retail job in The Banff Springs Hotel. It turned out she had a knack for selling sweaters! She enjoyed Golf, French Coffee, a Banff book club, Tea Time at the Legion, and Red Hatter’s luncheons. She was a long time very active member of Rundle United Church in Banff. She was seldom seen out without a stylish hat on her head.
Marjorie is survived by her children Lori (Dan Walker), Victoria B.C., Blair Armstrong (Dina), Banff, AB, Renee Meggs, Canmore, AB. and her son-in-law Patrice Turgeon, Canmore, AB; her grandchildren Taylor, Bryce, Skye, Evan, Marcus, Neil, Garnet, and Josh; her
niece, Diane Taylor, St. Catharines, ON; and her brother-in law Douglas Armstrong, Canmore. She was pre-deceased by her husband of 66 years Neil, her daughter Cindi, her brothers William and James Taylor of St. Catharines and her sister Ella Suitor of Ridgeville, ON.
The family would like to thank Dr. Michael Quinlan for his years
of dedicated care, compassion and friendship. The care and compassion shown by the staff of Golden Eagle View has been
much appreciated.
If desired, donations may be made to:
the Neil and Marjorie Armstrong Endowment fund at
the Banff Centre (www.banffcentre.ca/support)
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Marjorie Armstrong..
Death notice for the town of: Banff, Province: Alberta