Marjorie Blanche Kirby (nee Penney) went to be with the Lord on Sunday July 5, 2020. Leaving to mourn with fond and loving memories, son Kevin (Joy) and beloved granddaughter Validor; daughter Penney (Robert Parsons); the Bolos family; and a wide circle of friends and family in Ontario and Newfoundland. Predeceased by husband: Edison Kirby; parents: Richard and Phoebe Penney; sisters: Millie (Will) Peckham; Leah (Clyde) Budden and Doris (James) Kelloway and infant brothers Cecil and Edgar.

Marjorie was born on October 5, 1925 in Otterbury, Newfoundland. She enjoyed picking berries, especially bakeapples, in the beautiful hills around her home. After obtaining her teacher’s certificate in 1946 she set out on a teaching career that would take her to Deadman's Bay, Haystack, Woody Island and Small Point Newfoundland. Marjorie then set her sights on Ontario and Quebec, and taught in Teeterville, Tomstown, Cadillac and Malartic. She enjoyed driving her 1949 Chevrolet in southwestern Ontario.

While in Toronto Marjorie was reintroduced to Ed, whom she knew from the adjoining community of Blow Me Down in Newfoundland. They were married in New Liskeard in 1955 and remained so until Ed’s death in 1999. Kevin was born in St. John’s and Penney was born in Etobicoke. Mom created fun for her family through Halloween costumes, heart shaped birthday cakes, amusing doodles, the backyard tent, imaginative school projects, picnics, day trips to the Valhalla Inn pool, summersault lessons, advocating for Penney to be seen through the Romper Room Magic Mirror, funny recitations, snakes and ladders, jumble sales and more. Years later Marjorie was able to re-visit some of this fun with her precious granddaughter Validor.

Marjorie was eager to balance parenting with working and volunteering outside the home, including retail work in a bakery and the BiWay, administrative work in a real estate office and Queensway General Hospital. Marjorie sought out opportunities to continue teaching throughout her life. She taught English as a second language to international university students into her late 80s. It was a huge loss for her when she gave up teaching for health reasons. Among her final possessions are exercise books, lessons plans and many many photos of her smiling with her students at her kitchen table.

Marjorie was definitely a social butterfly and loved to meet people, make friends and create fun for herself and others. Marjorie was deeply religious and loved sharing bible study and prayer with family and friends. She was ever calm and serene in her faith and was a long-standing member of Richview United Church, St. Andrew’s United Church, and strongly connected to Crossroads Ministry.

Mom spent the final year of her life at Fudger House. Our family would like to express a huge thank you to all the staff and volunteers at Fudger for their gentle and loving care. Special recognition to Mom’s personal support worker Gigi, the Spiritual and Religious Care team, and Charmaine, Deirdre and Leah.

As an expression of sympathy, donations in Marjorie Kirby’s memory may be made to Fudger House Long Term Care Home at https://www.toronto.ca/community-people/housing-shelter/long-term-care-homes/fudger-house/ (Click on the DONATE NOW button) or send to Fudger House, Accounting, 439 Sherbourne Street, Toronto, Ontario M4X 1K6 (make cheque payable to Fudger House and include your address for a tax receipt).

An online Celebration of Life was held on July 18.