Obituary of Loretta Maureen Marshall
Loretta Maureen Margaret Marshall (nee Burgess)
29 October 1934 – 10 February 2023
It is with deep sadness that the family announce the passing of Loretta Marshall (Burgess) in her 89th year on Friday the 10th of February, 2023 at Fairmount Home in Glenburnie, Ontario.
Loretta was born in Woolwich, Kent, England to P.C. Arthur and Florence Burgess on 29 October 1934. Known to her family in England as Maureen, as a child, she was evacuated twice to a safer place to avoid the bombing during the Blitz and rocket attacks during the Second World War. She graduated from school and then became a GPO switchboard operator at the Artillery Barracks in Woolwich and then various commercial establishments in London. Loretta also served in the British Army Woman’s Royal Army Corps (WRAC) with the Territorial Army Royal Artillery for about five years.
In May 1957, she emigrated to Canada, travelling by sea from Southampton on the RMS Ivernia by way of Montreal to Toronto. In Toronto she took on any job that came; office work, photographer’s assistant and joined the Governor-General’s Horse Guards (GGHG) Militia for a year, until moving to Barrie, Ontario upon her marriage 16 August, 1958 to Wayne Marshall, then serving in the Canadian Army at Camp Borden. Thus began her nomadic life as a military spouse for the next 34 years.
She graduated from Barrie Business College in Barrie, Ontario with honours and began a life-long career of many administrative jobs in Canada and Germany in which she excelled. These included being an advertising assistant at C. Caplan’s of Ottawa, Ottawa Transportation, the Federal Government, Ottawa Regional Government and CFB Europe.
Loretta became a mother on 8 August,1960 with the birth of her son Peter. As a young woman, Loretta enjoyed her friends, field sports, dancing and her bicycle very much and was expert at knitting and handi-work. After retirement, she was active in lawn bowling and curling in the Kingston area. Loretta never lost her love of dancing and music, which were a highlight of her life. She was always hardworking and industrious and a perfectionist in all that she did.
Loretta was most happy when participating in Kingston Gospel Temple Choir and was the Church Seniors Coordinator for over 8 years. She was a very special person to many people, made friends easily and always presented herself in a classy manner. Loretta will be greatly missed for her Church Family activities, lawn bowling and for making a truly happy, traditional English home for her family – always a Christmas with all the trimmings.
Loretta is survived by her beloved husband of 65 years, Wayne Marshall, loving son Peter Marshall, both of Kingston; sister-in-law Lynn Burgess, nieces Maria McMahon and Dawn Burgess, nephew Hugh Burgess, all of Kent, England and nephew Captain (Ret.) Colin Saunders of Australia and their extended families; and her nephews James, Keith, Curtis and Blair Marshall, all of Alberta, Canada.
The family wishes to extend heartfelt gratitude to the staff of Fairmount Home for their exceptional care of our beloved Loretta throughout her stay there. They are deeply appreciated.
A visitation will be held on Thursday, 16 February, 2023 at the James Reid Funeral Home, 1900 John Counter Blvd. Kingston, Ontario from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. A Funeral Service will be held at the funeral home on Friday, 17 February, 2023 at 11:00 am. The Funeral Service will be livestreamed. Those wishing to watch the service may CLICK HERE to register. Following the service, a Reception will be held at Kingston Gospel Temple, 2295 Princess Street. Memorial donations may be made to Kingston Gospel Temple, or the University Hospitals Kingston Foundation – Cancer Centre of Southeastern Ontario, or the Kingston Humane Society.
