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In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar
JUDAH, Marjorie (née CARTER) - ber 31, 1922 -York, North Dakota May 7, 2021 - Calgary, Alberta Marjorie Judah (nee Carter) of Calgary, AB, passed away on Friday, May 7, 2021 at the age of 98 years. Surrounded by loved ones, her life filled with family, career and an insatiable thirst for travel and books came to a peaceful closing through natural causes. Over the decades as the family tree branched out with the arrival of eight grandchildren, Marjorie became known as the 'fun' grandma for Jennifer (Alex Viviani) and great-grandson Luca. She fondly supported grandsons Gordon and Patrick (partner Christina Clifford) throughout their childhood antics. After moving from St Bruno de Montarville, Quebec then to Montreal and later to Alberta, a second brood of children came to know her as their adopted grandmother and great-grandmother: Jarek and Suzanne Couture and their children, Elliot, Rory, Sadie; Mandara Couture and her son Flynn; and Xanthe Couture (Robert Driver) and their son Alfie Couture-Driver. Marjorie was a keen follower of current affairs and consummate storyteller of her travels to some of the world's most exotic locations. She awed her family with her uncanny ability to remember all the details of her trips until her last days. Born December 31, 1922, in York, North Dakota, Marjorie was the daughter of Edythe Jane Clark and Glenn Roy Carter. Soon after her birth, her Mother moved back to Canada and her grandparents' (Penelope and George Clark) farm in Souris, Manitoba. Her memories of growing up there and in Brandon included the promises that summer brought, along with the dustbowl days of the early thirties, but there was always the love and support she was given by her grandparents. She vividly remembered lessons in "elocution, piano and riding." Her school days were at Victoria Park Junior School, Brandon Collegiate, Brandon College and then United College in Winnipeg where she received her BA degree in 1943. On to McGill and a Bachelor of Library Science in 1944, Marjorie joined the Canadian navy and served on two coasts, in Halifax and Esquimalt. Despite the best efforts of family and friends, including a few gin and tonics, Marjorie would never reveal exactly just what her military service involved - a librarian or a decoder? Following discharge from the navy, she took on librarian positions at Verdun High School then eventually the Commerce Library at McGill University in 1947. In 1969, Marjorie completed her Masters of Library Science at McGill University and became the Head Librarian at the Howard Ross Library of Management where she continued to work until her retirement. It was at a summer job that she met John Lionel Judah, at the Crow's Nest Camp Summer Resort for Girls owned by Lionel's parents for four decades. Lionel was "to become the love of her life." Following their marriage on December 23, 1947 at the Unitarian Church of the Messiah, Montreal, they moved to St. Bruno, to what was then a small village on Quebec's South Shore. Their family home, a 150-year old stone house with its two and half feet thick walls, proved to be their hearth and basecamp for the life of adventure they were to share: careers, family, friends and travel and in their spare time - the hobby of breeding schnauzers and chihuahuas. Marjorie and Lionel enjoyed many years of travelling together. Their first adventure saw them drive from Montreal to Mexico and back on their two-month long honeymoon. Yearly trips had them load up the family car to drive to Florida for an annual Christmas holiday. In the early 1980s, Marjorie and Lionel would travel to China and Russia. Marjorie continued to travel extensively through India and South East Asia as well as Europe and the Middle East. Sadly, her last planned trip to Japan in 2011 was cancelled following the Fukushima nuclear disaster - although she did attempt to make the trip up to that last minute. Enduring memories remained of her time spent with 'Bene' in Friday Harbor in the San Juan Islands and Christmas holidays over two decades with the extended grandkids at the Jasper Park Lodge. While there were several who cared for Marjorie in her later years, few were more devoted than Val and Jeff Wagenaar, who were both always there for her. Beloved wife of the late John Lionel Judah of 39 years and loving mother to Margot (partner Jean Bedard) and Mary-Lee (J-C Couture) and mother-in-law to Wayne Cusack (predeceased). Marjorie was predeceased by her 'favourite' sister-in-law Mary Benedicta and her husband James W. Vanderbeek as well as their sons Dick and "Tom-Cat". To the end Marjorie was as fiercely independent as she was giving to those around her. Her generosity and openness to the world included supporting organizations that were instrumental in sustaining those in need. If desired, as an expression of sympathy, a donation to the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Alberta, 200, 119 - 14th Street N.W., Calgary, AB T2N 1Z6 Telephone: (403) 264-5549, www.heartandstroke.ca or if friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to STARS Air Ambulance, 1441 Aviation Park N.E., Calgary, AB T2E 8M7, Tel; 403-295-1811; www.stars.ca, in Marjorie's memory. (The Globe and Mail 15 May 2021)
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