MARJORIE GILMOUR

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MARJORIE (BEBSIE) (FONTAINE) GILMOUR (RED EAGLE WOMAN) (AUNTIE MOMMA) (NANA) RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL SURVIVOR, SAGKEENG OJIBWAY FIRST NATION 1945 - 2015 With her family holding her close, our beloved Marge passed away peacefully at the age of 69 years on April 16, 2015. Marge lived life with exuberance. She was a vital force within her family and a woman of dedicated service to her family and to the Sto:Lo First Nation elders in British Columbia where she was bestowed the name "Red Eagle Woman". Mourning her passing are her beloved, dedicated, devoted husband Terry, children Sheldon (Lillian), Cheryl, Jeffery, Michelle (Jesse), Bonnie (Seayenna) and Valerie, grandchildren Jessica, Hayley, Anthony, Cameron, Alexa, Duncan, Markus, Chase, Jaxon and Jakob, great-grandchildren Maya and Jai, siblings Marie, Theodore (Morgan) and Shirley (Jon), and many loving nieces, nephews, friends and special Elders. Marge was predeceased by her parents George A. and Margaret Cecilia, her brothers Leon and Clifford, sister baby Georgina, sister-in-law Irene, aunts and uncles, Mishoom and Kookum, many beloved cousins, and extended family members. Marge and Terry shared a loving marriage of dedication, humour, commitment to family and enjoyment of the natural world, living many years in Surrey and Chilliwack, BC, captivated by the beauty and bounty of their environment. While in Chilliwack, Marge developed meaningful relationships with her First Nation Elders. She and Terry travelled extensively, driving throughout Canada with their spunky dog Buddy. Settling in close to Powerview, their more recent years have been lived in quiet splendor along the edge of the Canadian Shield, sharing their land and gardens with deer, bears and nature's beauty. Marge's childhood years at Sagkeeng Ojibway First Nation were happy and carefree, surrounded by loving parents, grandparents and extended family. Her early years of bliss were abruptly cut off when she was taken in by the Fort Alexander Indian Residential School, where she spent 10 years. Her life for the next 50 years was marked by her efforts to deal with the aftermath of this experience. In her later years, with the support of her husband and family, she began to confront the reality of what had happened to her at residential school and the journey of reconciliation. Marge endured the struggle and adversity of stereotyping, and racism of being a First Nation woman in a Caucasian workforce. With the aid of her husband, she overcame the barriers of discrimination and completed her Nurses' Aide Diploma in Chilliwack. She stood proudly and as an equal among her peers, excelling in her career. She was highly respected as a nurses' aide, colleague, friend and family member for her empathy, fearless emotion, and loving nature. Despite her own years of health challenges, Marge cared for others with all her heart. Of Mom's many accomplishments, her sobriety was her most cherished. Her devotion and commitment for her children to live a good life was a strong motivator. Mom was grateful for her children to experience a world of opportunities, peace and serenity. Thank you to the family who have come together at this difficult time, to the staff of Seven Oaks Hospital, Peritoneal nurse Elaine, Dr. Lambrecht, Dr. Armstrong, home care nurses Jeanette, Lisa and Wilma, foot care nurse Debbie, delivery driver John, and special friends Spartz and Newfie'. A wake will be held at the St. Alexander Roman Catholic Church at Sagkeeng First Nation from April 19 at 5:00 p.m. to April 21, 2015. Cremation and private family commemoration to follow. Pallbearers will be Sheldon Fontaine, Jeffery Gilmour, Robert Mills, Douglas Swampy, Kirk Guimond and Brian Fontaine. Condolences may be sent to the family c/o Spirit Road Funeral Services Inc., P.O. Box 200, Fort Alexander, MB, R0E 0P0 spiritroadfs@shaw.ca, 204-340-6490

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 18, 2015