Marjorie Isobel Stewart (nee Brown) passed away peacefully with her family by her side at North York General Hospital on Saturday, May 4, 2024, at the age of 101.
Marj was born in Toronto, Ontario, on January 26, 1923, to John and Marion Brown. She grew up in the High Park neighbourhood with siblings Dorothy (predeceased) and Douglas (now 93), and attended Humberside High School. As Marj grew, she developed a great love of music and became a talented pianist and vocalist, singing in the Leslie Bell Singers and Goldenaires.
In 1946, she married George Stewart (1923-2001) and in 1949 their daughter Beverley joined the family. When George graduated from the University of Toronto in 1950, they moved to Thornbury, Ontario, and set up a dental practice which continued for 35 years, with Marj as receptionist and bookkeeper. She also found time to provide Bev with three siblings, Linda, Brian, and Michael.
Marj and George loved living in Thornbury, and they built a beautiful home overlooking the Beaver River. As the family grew, Marj organized countless family outings (boating, hiking, picnicking, cross-country skiing) and camping trips to British Columbia, California, Nova Scotia, and Florida. During those years, Marj was an active participant in Amnesty International and a member of the United Church, where she sang in the choir, played piano, and led an active group of giggling girls called the Canadian Girls In Training. As the kids grew, married, and had children of their own, Marj was always there to provide support, respite, and understanding as a loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.
With the children grown and educated, Marj and George were free to travel farther afield. Together they enjoyed trips to Mexico, Alaska, Great Britain, Ireland, and many European countries. When George passed away in 2001, Marj’s love of travel continued, as she moved on with friends and family to explore Mexico, Ireland, Peru, Egypt, Turkey, and China in her 80s! Her mental and physical energy often left younger travellers struggling to keep up.
In 2011, Marj moved back to the Toronto area to be closer to family. She enjoyed many amenities at Sunrise of Thornhill (no more cooking!), where she was a valued Bridge player, a listening ear, and continued to challenge family members in competitive games of Scrabble and Cribbage. Marj is survived by four children: Beverley (Alan Jenkins), Linda (Peter Kershaw), Brian (Sara Kyne), and Michael (Anne Doherty), 10 grandchildren: Tara (Branko Miskov) and Adam Jenkins; Eric (Jen Lusk) and Geoffrey Kershaw; Jessica (Ryan Landry), John (Tara Farrel)), Rachel (Brian Oliver) and Jacqueline (Cammie Hogg) Stewart; Amanda (Emilio Fuentes); Caitlin (Jacob Ward) Stewart, and 13 great-grandchildren: Connor Bowman, Oliver, Jamie and Riley Miskov; Bryn Kershaw; Daniel, Michael and Alice Landry; Finlay Stewart-Hogg; Carlissa and Emilio Fuentes; Bryson and Aurora Ward.
A private celebration of life was held by the family on Tuesday, May 7, and will be followed by interment at Thornbury-Clarksburg cemetery at a later date.
We remember Marj/Mom/Gran/Grannie with great love and we will all miss her wonderful smile.
