Auntie Margie was born in Birstall, England; on December 18, 1940. She was the eighth of nine children born to my grandparents. Only five of those children lived to adulthood. In England, my grandparents and their two eldest children worked every day. My dad who was just a boy himself, had the responsibility to take care of his two younger siblings, Marjorie and Derek every day after school. He has shared stories of this time in his life many times over the years, and always with fondness and a deep love for his brother and sister.
During my growing up years we didn't have a lot of extended family nearby. Many of our aunts, uncles and cousins lived out of state and out of the country, but there was a time when both of my dads sisters lived nearby; I have very happy memories of those years.
My first memory of Auntie Margie was when she and her family came to visit us when I was in elementary school. She had three of the cutest little girls you ever saw, all of them younger than me. They also brought a dog... a Beagle named Sheba. I enjoyed their visit so much, I remember crying when they left. When they later moved to Utah we were very happy, it was fun to have our cousins nearby and we often spent time at each others homes. When I started Jr. High I became the babysitter for my three younger cousins, they were my favorite babysitting family. Annette, Alana, Rita and I had so much fun together. I had many sleepovers at their house.
Auntie Margie was a hard worker. Any employer was lucky to have her in their employment. She was a hard worker at home too. Her house was always immaculate, she had great coffee table books and interesting statues in her home as well, and a really awesome harpsichord. I loved that harpsichord, I'd never seen one before. Her family was always well taken care of too. It was always fun to go to her house. She always had treats on hand. She was a fun Aunt. I remember trips to Bear Lake and Willard Bay and sailing in a "cool" sailboat.
I remember when Auntie Margie went to the temple for the first time. My Mother had just purchased a new temple dress that she was going to wear for the first time that night. I had just fallen asleep when suddenly there was Auntie Margie, kneeling by my bed telling me about her wonderful night at the temple; and then she told me that Mother had let her wear her new dress. She told me that it made her "...feel like a bride."
Auntie Margie always had a present for us on our birthdays. She knew just the right thing to get too. On my 13th birthday she gave me the first Partridge Family album. I was thrilled!! I didn't even have a record player to play it on, but whenever I went to babysit my cousins I took my precious album with me to play on the record player at their house, and the four of us danced and sang all night. Whenever one of my siblings had a birthday we were all excited, because Auntie Margie always had "un-birthday" surprises for the rest of us. She was always thinking of us. When Mother was expecting David, Auntie Margie was soooo excited. She was buying things for the baby all of the time. When David was born he had so many nice baby clothes and other items, compliments of Auntie Margie. When our families new home was under construction, Auntie Margie showed up one night with fish-n-chips for dinner. We all sat around on our future kitchen floor and enjoyed that wonderful treat.
When Auntie Margie's family moved to San Diego at the beginning of my sophomore year it was hard to see them go. I was there when they closed the door on the moving van and drove away. I don't think I've seen Auntie Margie more than five times since that day... that thought makes me sad.
The last time I saw Auntie Margie was in July of 2006 when we celebrated my parents 50th wedding anniversary. Auntie Margie surprised us all by coming all the way from Mississippi to attend. We were so happy to see her and we knew that she was happy to see each of us. During the celebration she took me and my five siblings aside, calling some of us by nicknames we hadn't heard in years; names that she used to call us. She presented each one of us with a gift from her, I suppose you could say she gave each one of us an "un-anniversary" gift. So typical of our Auntie Margie who loved us, because... that's just the way she was. Love you Auntie Margie.
This is how I will always remember my Auntie Margie
5 comments:
What a tender loving post. :o)
She was all that you remember!
We did have a lot of fun times together you helped your Dad and I to remember things. :o)
I first met her when she came to Belfast the day before my 17th birthday, she was 13, so we were girls together, and good friends.
When you talk about seeing her just five more times that is sad. :o(
She visited Belfast again in 1962 when Larry was stationed in Europe bringing baby Annette with them. Larry intoduced us to "fried chicken". It was delicious.
She learned to drive while living in Utah and we tended the girls.
I remember the girls being in a "Dance Review" at Norma's Studio and me fretting over making costumes. Marjie taught me a very important lesson. "They're only costumes" In essence "don't sweat the small stuff".
She was an immaculate housekeeper. I remember one time they moved into an apartment and later in the day I went over to see how it was going. EVERYTHING was in place. Including towels neatly folded in the linen closet. Not a box to be seen. It was as if they had lived there forever.
She was a good worker and became very useful in her various jobs and indispensible to her employers.
It is true, when we were expecting David she said to me, "Don't worry, you have the baby I will get the layette" and she did. She sure was mad though when she came to see us on our arrival home because my neighbor was here holding the baby. But she was good. :o)
We visited them in Binghampton several years ago and had a really great time together.
So glad families are forever. We miss her already.
We look forward to the day when there will be no more tears, no more sorrows.
Love you Marjorie, always have, always will. :o)
I adored Auntie Margie when I was a child. I definitely remember how special she always made me feel. I remember there was a day when she took me shopping with her. JUST ME!!! I was little and I'm sure everyone else, including her girls, were in school. She took me to McDonald's for lunch and then we went to another store where she bought me one of those packages of play jewelry! I have always remembered that.
I have always told my kids how I thought I'd lost her forever when David was born. I was sure she was forgetting about me now that tne new baby was here. I've told the story of walking home from (primary I think) and seeing her car in the driveway. I was so excited I ran the rest of the way. Only to find that she was there to pick up David and take him home with her for a while. I was not happy. She invited me to come, but in my stubborn 4 yr. old pride I woudn't go. I was sure she loved him more. Of course she didn't.
Interestingly enough, the evening before she passed away I was home with my family watching the DVD mom and dad made for us of all the old home movies. Sure enough, that very day was on the video and again I related that story to my boys. Also, a trip to Bear Lake where we see auntie Margie sitting on a huge stack of inner tubes rocking back and forth. I told my kids, "That's her! That's my auntie Margie who I loved so much!"
I was happy to see her when we visited her apartement several years ago on our way through CA.
I was thrilled to see her in Lake Tahoe a few years ago and she was able to meet my family.
I was also thrilled to see her in 2006 at the anniversary party. She even remembered to call me "Lili-O!"
I will always have wonderful memories of such a wonderful Aunt. Love you Auntie Margie!
What a great aunt. You have a special gift in writing about your family members. Thanks for sharing your memories...
What great memories of Auntie Margie. Many of them things I'd long forgotten about. It's a pity that they ever moved away. It was a joy to see her again in 2006 giving us our "un-anniversary" gifts, just Auntie Margie and us six Marsden kids gathered around. My condolences to Richard, Annette, Alana, Rita and Jared.
As someone who wanted to date one of her daughters, when I first met Marjie I was viewed with a fair bit of suspicion :-) It was clear from the start that she loved the Lord and valued her children more than anything.
Yesterday's services were wonderful.
I will treasure all the memories and look forward to seeing her again.
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