Obituary of Viola “Marjorie” Helen Stevens

Marjorie passed away peacefully at home November 18, 2022. Born in Toronto in 1926, Marjorie moved to Dartford, Kent, England with her family as a young girl just prior to the start of WW II. Spending her teen years in England during the war had a strong influence in shaping the woman she was to become. In later years Marjorie would often reminisce about those years, telling tales of bombs, rationing, and sleeping in air raid shelters.

Marjorie returned to Toronto after the war, where she began her lifelong career working for Eaton’s department store, and then met her husband of 49 years, Leslie Stevens, on a blind date. Marj and Les soon married and bought a house on Earl Grey Road, which was home to Marjorie for over 60 years. A friendly, kind and always elegant lady, Marjorie was a steady and
reassuring influence on “the street”, becoming the keeper of the keys for various neighbours, and marking the rhythm of each day for all by whether her curtains were opened to the morning sun, or closed with the warm light of a lamp glowing in the living room window.

In more recent years Marjorie was a resident at Hazelton Place Retirement Home. With increasing frailty and a corresponding loss of independence, Marjorie made the brave decision to have a medically assisted death. In death, as in life, Marjorie was the embodiment of quiet but determined dignity.

Marjorie is missed by her daughter Sandy (Phil), her son Gordon, and her beloved granddaughter Sabrina, along with all her friends on Earl Grey Road.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to support MAiD House (www.maidhouse.ca/donate) or the Toronto Humane Society (www.torontohumanesociety.com/ways-to-give/tribute-giving/). A Celebration of Life will be held at the Humphrey Funeral Home A.W. Miles – Newbigging Chapel, 1403 Bayview Avenue (at Davisville) on Saturday, December 3, 2022 from 2-4 pm. All who remember Marjorie are welcome. Condolences may be forwarded through www.humphreymiles.com.

© 2022 Humphrey Funeral Home A.W. Miles – Newbigging Chapel Limited. All Rights Reserved.