Obituary of Marjorie Peart
It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Marjorie Jane Peart, née McKenna, 80, of Kingston, ON, on Friday January 6th in Kingston, ON.
Marj was born in Pittsburgh, PA to Veronica and Bill McKenna on August 7, 1942. After high school she moved to Canada to attend University of Toronto where she earned a Bachelor of Arts from U of T’s St Michael’s College. She worked as an English teacher after marrying Peter until beginning a family.
Marj was a creative force and a leader in all areas of her life, and poured her incredible energy into her family, friends, work and volunteering activities. She had a career as a potter before beginning work at Queen’s University Faculty of Education. She attained her Masters of Public Administration at Queen’s and ended her career as Director of the Commerce Program at Queen’s School of Business.
Upon retirement, Marj travelled the world with Peter but always came back to her beloved island on 14 Island Lake in Verona, ON where the family spent every summer. Marj loved swimming and kayaking, and took great joy in taking her grandchildren waterskiing and tubing. Always an adventurer, she purchased a JetSki last summer in order to zoom around and visit friends on the lake, much to the delight of her teenage grandchildren! She was an avid quilter, member of the Kingston Senior Choristers, piano player, Scrabble, bridge and pickleball player, and was always ready with suggestions for a great book.
Marj was a dedicated volunteer with Hospice Kingston for over 15 years, where she led bereavement support groups and provided respite support for those in palliative care and their families. In 2014 she was inducted into the June Caldwell Circle of Outstanding Volunteers and received an Award of Distinction for her service to Hospice Palliative Care Ontario.
Marj will be dearly missed by her husband of 56 years, Peter, her children Megan (Nikos Katinakis), Shauna, Jeremy (Kendall née Elder), her grandchildren Lincoln, Thalia, Sawyer, Henry and Miller, her siblings Veronica, Betsy, Thomas, Larry, Joseph, Beant and Elaine, and her many nieces and nephews in both Canada and the United States. She is predeceased by her brothers William, John and Michael, and her sister Maureen. Marj’s wide circle of friends will also mourn her passing.
The family wishes to extend their gratitude to the doctors, nurses and caregivers at Kingston General Hospital, especially the team on Kidd 5.
A Celebration of Life will be held at James Reid Funeral Home in Kingston, ON, on Thursday, January 12th from 2:00-4:00pm. When arriving, please enter through Reception Centre doors at rear of the building. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Hospice Kingston Building Fund, or to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Canada.
