MARGUERITE ALLEN CLUBB

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MARGUERITE ALLEN CLUBB (nee WARE) Marguerite Allen Clubb (nee Ware) lived to be 100 years old. She died after a long stay at the Charleswood Care Centre, beginning in a walker, ending in a wheelchair. Predeceased by her parents, Louisa Weatherby and Earl Mortimer Ware, brother Joe, her beloved loyal husband William Garth Clubb (Bill), numerous in-laws, and her only cousin Mary Ann Reeve Larkin. Survived by her son Steven and daughter Lindy (Shawn Baker), grandchildren Amy Coveney, Emma and Connor Clubb, 26 wonderful nieces and nephews, and brother-in-law Dr. James Mitchell. Among her new family members, she was closest to her father-in-law, Hon. W. R. Clubb, Bill's feisty twin sister Catherine, and some of her favourite nieces, Leslie, Susan and Carla. Margie was proud of her roots. She grew up in the stately Quaker area of Woodstown, New Jersey, reading literature, making friends, training her own horse to compete in jumping events, swimming in the ocean, and dancing in Atlantic City (leading to a lifelong love of swing music). She worked for a large corporation after graduation, took a memorable trip to Cuba, and drove a baby blue convertible. Then the Second World War started. She made a bold decision to join the war effort as a member of the Red Cross, training in Washington, DC, driving a jeep to serve the troops in Italy. Quakers are pacifists, so she found the balance between compassion and conflict. The humour and sincerity of a very handsome captain from Manitoba won her heart. After the war, she spent six months in Florence, Italy, reuniting children and families, before moving to Winnipeg to marry Bill at St. Georges Church in Crescentwood. From their first home in Wildewood Park, she helped create the Fort Garry public library and gave birth to both her children just before the major flood of 1950. They had to relocate to the new housing community of Don Mills, Ontario for four years, but chose to spend each summer at the family farm, Clover Lodge. Returning to Winnipeg, they bought a Tud or house in River Heights and it became the long term family home. In the aftermath of the war, they had been seeking peace and security. Margie had a wide circle of friends and neighbours, held weekly Quaker meetings, played bridge, volunteered in social work, and kept a gracious home. She was wonderful with numbers, accounting for some of Bill's business interests, managing Parkside Ford and Assiniboia Downs. Her curiosity ranged from books to ballets to birds. She loved warm weather, enjoying several summers at Victoria Beach or with her mother in Woodstown. Tragically, she lost her husband from lung cancer in 1979, nursing him at home. Soon after, she did the same for her mother. To recover, she wintered in Key West, Florida, where both she and Bill had shared many a sunset on the beaches. Margie was an interesting, intelligent, caring woman whose ancestors helped to move slaves to freedom and women to emancipation. She had a flair for fashion and conversation, kept things simple, and valued community. She maintained the peaceful loving tenets of her faith amid the comforts of mohair throws, mahogany furniture, and monogrammed silver. It was a long good life that came to an end and her children thank her for sharing it. At her request, there will be no funeral, cremation has taken place at Thomson "In the Park" Funeral Home. Donations in her memory can be made to the Canadian Red Cross or the American Friends Service Committee.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 09, 2016