Obituary of Marjorie Elizabeth Gowdey

Of St. Thomas, ON, passed away peacefully at the St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital on Saturday, November 2, 2024, in her 97th year. 

Marjorie was the last surviving member of her generation. She was the youngest of five children of Billie and Myrtle, predeceased by her brother Charles and his wife Peggy, her brother Jack, her brother Glenn and his wives Doris and Maxine, and her dear sister Gladys and her husband Ron Payson. Marjorie was never married and had no children, but she lovingly embraced her role as Aunt Marjorie to all of their children – David Gowdey and his wife Yvonne of San Rafael, CA, Kathy Gowdey of London, Kevin Gowdey and his wife Sharon of Blenheim, Sheila Windsor and her husband Jim of London; to Paul Payson and his wife Tiina of Edmonton and the late Brian Payson of Waterloo Region; and to Tim Gowdey and his wife Joanne of Sarnia, Mark Gowdey and his wife Denise of Woodstock, and Chris Gowdey and his wife Stacey of Windsor. As their families grew, she also became Aunt Marjorie to James, Christina, Caitlin and Jeremy; to Samuel, Charlotte, Brendan and Miranda; to Jessica and Claire; and to Beth, Vickie, Katie and Diane. They will all miss her so much.

Marjorie had a long career as a legal secretary, first with Donald Smith and later with Carrie and O’Dea in St. Thomas. Not only was she a loving aunt to all of her nieces and nephews, she was a mentor and spiritual force to many generations of other people’s children in Explorers and Sunday School at St. Andrew’s United Church in St. Thomas. St. Andrew’s was a vital part of Marjorie’s life, and she was a vital part of its existence from her childhood right up until the present. She has remained incredibly active in church life in so many ways. Over the years she developed strong relationships with so many of the ministers at St. Andrew’s and she was so grateful to them for leading her in her spiritual life.

Marjorie was born in 1928 and lived all of her life in the family home on Wilson Avenue. Her family knew how important it was for her to live out her life in her home, and renovated it to meet her needs after a fall. The family thanks the important people who have cared for Marjorie in recent years - her carers Evelyn and Donna, so many St. Andrew’s people who know who they are, especially her friends Merna and Don, her cousins, the late Ona Craig, Karen and Lori, her neighbours Tom and Maria and Gary, and the kind nurses at STEGH - Roxanne, Noah, Abby and Steph. Without the support of this village of people, Marjorie’s life would have been so different.

The funeral service to celebrate Marjorie’s life will be held at her lifelong church, St. Andrew’s United Church, 60 West Avenue, St. Thomas on Saturday, November 9, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. (Visitation prior, from 1:00-2:00 p.m.) Interment in Elmdale Memorial Park. Marjorie loved flowers, but flowers are respectfully declined. Plant a flowering bush in her memory at your house. Memorial donations in Marjorie’s name directed to the St. Andrew’s Memorial Fund or to Valora Place, St. Thomas (formerly Violence Against Women Services Elgin County) will be gratefully acknowledged. Arrangements entrusted to the Sifton Funeral Home, 118 Wellington St., St. Thomas (519-631-1160).