Marjorie Alice Hefler
June 24, 1926 – December 1, 2022
The Family of Marjorie Alice Hefler wish to announce that after a brief decline in health, Marjorie has passed away peacefully on Dec 1, 2022, surrounded by love.
Marjorie was born June 24, 1926, the oldest of ten children born to Everett and Freda Slauenwhite of Upper Sackville. Marjorie has had quite a life! She was the kind of person who made the most of every day taking care of her family, her friends, and her community.
Her initial desire was to become a nurse, however once she finished grade 11, she started to work at the Royal Bank of Canada on the corner of Spring Garden and Queen Street. To get to work, she had to walk from Upper Sackville to the Lucasville Road, to get the bus to and from work. She worked there for 10 years and during that time, she made many life-long friends! She married Graham Hefler in 1947 and they were married for 50 years, before Graham passed away. The raised three children – Blaine, Linda and Tracy. To earn extra money while Graham was working logging in the woods, Marjorie became the first female school bus driver in the early 60’s. She started with a very small bread truck bus which had a bench along either wall behind and opposite the driver’s seat. She eventually advanced to a 66-passenger stick shift school bus and spent years transporting hundreds of kids to and from school. Many still remember her and when they would meet her years later would comment “You were my bus driver Mrs. Hefler”! Then, the family began the business of sleigh rides during the winter months and which took place every Thursday through to Sunday all winter long! After you enjoyed a sleigh ride with Graham, Marjorie would serve her homemade baked beans and brown bread. This after sleigh rides for many of the communities childrens groups on the weekend afternoons where they were served hot dogs, and Marge’s famous hot chocolate with ice cream in it! During these years they also started to build the roads and infrastructure for Timber Trails Homes Limited, starting with three streets. The first “Mobile home” moved in, in 1970! This soon became their full-time work with Marjorie doing all the bookkeeping and Graham building more streets. Marge sat in a pump house the first of every month collecting rent. Fortunately for her they moved to post-dated cheques and saved her many cold days in the pump house. Today, Timber Trails has eleven Streets housing 384 Mini Homes in their community and it is known widely as the best land leased community in the Province. From the beginning and until very recently, Marjorie was hands on with bookkeeping very involved with running the family business, and played a very strong role with clients. Marge and Graham helped build the Mobile Home Park and RV Association of Nova Scotia which over years amalgamated with New Brunswick and became the Manufactured Housing Association of Atlantic Canada. Marge always enjoyed gong to the meetings and being active in the association well into her 80’s. Marge and Graham then began traveling with their fifth wheel. They traveled across Canada and each year enjoyed wintering in Florida. They met many Nova Scotians in their travels each year who became wonderful friends and either “Pass the Ace” or “Crib” buddies. Even after Graham passed, Marjorie would venture to Florida for a few years and also enjoyed camping at Seafoam NS during the summer where she enjoyed playing Crib and sipping tea with her Truro cohorts. Marjorie became very involved with the Equestrian community in Nova Scotia. It started by following their youngest son Tracy to his shows and then her and Graham becoming involved themselves by purchasing a hackney pony – Imperial Jubilee. Marjorie became quite the stable hand / groomer helping both Graham and Tracy braid their horses mane and tails and acting as Grahams groom in the showring. Marjorie then began assisting in the show offices first at West Lawrencetown show. Then moved on to the Atlantic Winter Fair and the Maritime Fall Fair where she took on many aspects of the operation the Light Horse Division for many years, along with a very strong group of friends, piers and colleagues who became like family. The fun, hard work and dedication during these years always allowed time for shenanigans and fun, and were some of Marjorie’s most treasured memories.
In her free time, Marjorie was an avid card player especially with crib and 45’s. She enjoyed her Monday and Saturdays at the 50+ Club in Sackville. She was dedicated to her Church, Sackville United Baptist Church where she never missed a worship even during our covid years thanks the newly “Live Video” services. She served as the Church Treasurer for decades and was well known as a strong spiritual person. An annual personal highlight for her was to give the Christmas Eve reading at the service. She never missed. If you saw her at Church any Sunday, you would admire her collection of hats, which she loved to wear to Sunday Service and was widely known as the Hat Lady. We invite any of you who want to wear a hat in her honour, to do so at her Celebration of Life service, this Monday.
And finally, Marjorie was a pillar of the community of Sackville, having spent years supporting various organizations, and sponsoring young athletes especially of the Special Olympics, taking gifts and treats to shut ins, and being a very proud member and long-time President of Acadia Recreation Club Society. Her hands have touched every aspect of the club and is just one piece of her incredible community legacy. She was so proud when the Acadia Club members finished most of the Community Park and could see the children playing on the inclusive playground or out in the play space or walking the trails. She was thrilled with the completion of the bandstand and the grand opening of the Acadia Park to the community.
In her later years Marjorie enjoyed watching her beloved Blue Jays and all the curling games on TV. She never missed a game and one of her highlights was seeing the back to back wins of the Blue Jays and actually seeing the trophy at Dunedin Marjorie’s story would not be complete without talking about her immense love and pride in her children and family. She helped and supported Blaine, Linda and Tracy in every way and watched them become successful in their lives, as well as to become passionate owners and operators of the family business. Her grandchildren and great grandchildren were the loves of her life and her home is filled with their pictures, artwork they’ve done for her, little letters and acknowledgements of all of their interests. Marjorie also dearly loved her extended family. There are many children who call her Nana Marge, or Aunt Marge and she is proud of every one of them and always interested in their lives.
She was quite a lady, an inspiration to many especially to her family, and we will all miss her dearly. Thank you Marge, Mom, Nana, Nana Marge Aunt Marge and for teaching us by example, showing true altruistic love, and for your unending generosity to everyone. You will be missed, and you will live on through us, forever.
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SERVICES
Memorial Service
Monday, December 5, 2022
11:00 AM
Sackville United Baptist Church
1240 Old Sackville Road
Middle Sackville, Nova Scotia
Get Directions on Google Maps
June 24 1926 December 1 2022
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Marjorie Alice Hefler June 24 1926 December 1 2022..
Death notice for the town of: Lower-Sackville, Province: Nova Scotia