Nunes Pottinger Funeral Service & Crematorium Ltd.

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Marion Shepherd

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Marion Mabel Shepherd (Cartwright)

April 10, 1927 - January 23, 2024

Tribute

Our mom, Marion Mabel Shepherd (née Cartwright), decided she had enough grey winter weather and passed away peacefully in her sleep in her own home, a few months short of her 97th birthday. She was born and raised in Invermere, BC, and met her life-long love, Gordon in the Radium Hot Springs pool, where he was perfecting his diving skills.   Marion was predeceased by her husband Dr. Gordon Shepherd; her in-laws Roy and Colleen Shepherd; her sisters Mary Ball and Edith McLean; and her brother Gilbert Cartwright.
She is survived by her sons Bruce (Lexy) and Lance (Karen); grandchildren Endrené, Sandy, Sage, Kade, and Kassandra; and great-grandchildren Zen and Saffron.
Marion was a devoted wife and mother, and was Gordon’s faithful answering machine for years! They travelled the world together, seeing everything from polar bears to coral reefs.  Marion was a member of the Anglican Church and also volunteered for many community organizations including the Hospital Auxiliary; docent at the Osoyoos Museum; founding member of the Baldy Ski Club and the Osoyoos Golf Club.  She was an amazing knitter and leather crafter, belonged to bridge and book clubs, and was often found gardening.
We hope that she and Dad are now together and exploring a flower-filled alpine meadow.
Her ashes will join Dad’s later this spring when the earth is warm and flowers are blooming.  We will celebrate her wonderful life then; details for this will be provided at a later date.

The Shepherd Family sends their heartfelt appreciation for all the comforting and loving care that our caregivers, especially Emily and Jana, lavished on Marion. Your efforts allowed Mom to die peacefully in her own home surrounded by caring people she knew, rather than confused and upset in a strange place and with strangers. Thank you so much for all that you did for Marion!

In lieu of flowers please consider donating to Doctors Without Borders at https://action.msf.ca

Condolences

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From: Nunes-Pottinger Funeral Service & Crematorium Ltd.

The Nunes-Pottinger Funeral Service & Crematorium Staff send our condolences to family and friends.

From: Endrené Shepherd
Relation: She is my grandmother

When I was first introduced to my grandmother, there was a concerted effort to get me to call her “Grandmama” (thanks to the characters from “Bewitched”, I believe). Unable to pronounce the mouthful, I instead called her “Mama”. It stuck; my brother Sandy and I have referred to Marion as Mama for all of our lives.

Right from the start, she was my favourite person. Always gentle and kind, and endlessly, ACTUALLY interested the lives of all of her grandchildren. Mama and Granddad were a devoted, and important part of our foundation. They attended every event they could; Christmas concerts, recitals and shows and performances of every kind. They were there on birthdays and holidays, and you could always count on Mama to have her camera ready to capture the event; the thousands and thousands of photos and slides are evidence of her keen interest in capturing and keeping bits of the memories she was immersed in.

Mama was never loud– you’d have to stress her patience reeeeeeeeally far to get a harsh word out of her. She was peaceable in the very safest way for a child; no sudden movements, always ready for a cuddle, and ever ready with a Mr. Wiggly bar for the tiniest hunger pang. She always had time for us; she had a special voice she used with very small children, and would sing to us as we swam together with her in the pool or the lake. (She could never remember the songs when I asked her later). She baked and cooked in a way that I have not seen before or since; she could fill the kitchen (and consequentially, the freezer) with pies and jam whenever a particular fruit was in season. Every Christmas, you could expect your very own thistle-printed shortbread to be included with your gifts.

She loved birds, and would never pick a favourite, no matter how many times I asked. She read voluminously, and was in her book club for a record number of years before she could no longer keep up, and had to drop out. She loved shoes and handbags and lipstick, and would not leave the house without being well-put together. She did NOT like wearing hats. She was very sensitive to smell, and the slightest whiff of something unpleasant could ruin her appetite. She got seasick easily, but still gamely cruised the world with Gordon.

In her last years, she spoke often, and candidly about her young life in Invermere. How her tiny, Scottish mother (also named Marion, but nicknamed “Minnie”) would sing all throughout the day as she went about her tasks. How her gruff dad would loosen up when he would play crib with her and Gilbert. How Gil talked her into helping him wash his hair with rainwater before he went on a date, so that it would be extra soft. How Edith so loved the children she taught. How Mary found love late in life, and was never able to have the children she desired. How after the peas and raspberries had been picked, she’d run barefoot, down to the lake with her brother to cool down.

She gave us all so much love and devotion, committed so much of her time and energy to loving and caring for the people in her life. She was selfless, and completely, truly kind, right to her very core. I will never not miss her.

From: Sandra Smith
Relation: family friend

Mrs. Shepherd was a soft spoken, kind lady and good friend to many including my mother. Condolences to all of the family. Endrené, what a beautiful tribute. I know she appreciated all that you did to help her stay in her own home.

Service Schedule

Private service arrangements have been made.

Memorial Gifts

In lieu of flowers please consider donating to Doctors Without Borders at https://action.msf.ca

Thank You Notice

The Shepherd Family sends their heartfelt appreciation for all the comforting and loving care that our caregivers, especially Emily and Jana, lavished on Marion. Your efforts allowed Mom to die peacefully in her own home surrounded by caring people she knew, rather than confused and upset in a strange place and with strangers. Thank you so much for all that you did for Marion!

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6049 Main Street, Oliver, BC
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5859 Main Street, Oliver, BC
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Gems and Stems at Eastside
6496 Park Drive, Oliver, BC
https://gemsandstems.com/
(250) 826-0438

Polka Dot Door Floral Design Boutique
8522 Main Street, Osoyoos, BC
https://www.polkadotdoor.net/
(250) 495-2226

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