Obituary of Marlene Isobel Moffatt
Marlene Isobel Moffatt
(nee Agar)
1932-2018
Marlene passed away peacefully at Kingston General Hospital on September 6, 2018. She was predeceased by her father Stan, mother Isobel, stepmother Violet, and brothers Bill and Bob. Left to remember her with deepest love are her husband Craig, son Cam (Sera), daughter Stacie Stanton (Ray) and grandchildren Will, Meg, Connor, Jane and Isabella.
Marlene was born in Hamilton, but her mother died when Marlene was six years old, shortly after the family had moved to Gananoque. Her father, Stan Agar, remarried and Marlene spent the rest of her childhood years in Gan. She did well in school and developed secretarial skills which stood her in good stead for the rest of her life. It was while serving in that capacity at the Royal Military College in 1954 that she met a fourth year cadet, Craig Moffatt. It was love at first sight, and they were married in 1956, a bond of caring and companionship that endured for 62 years. Several years later they moved to Boston, where Marlene continued as a secretary at MIT, but after the birth of their first child Cam, she retired and became a full-time loving mother. By 1966 they were a family of four, and returned to Kingston, ON. While always dedicated to the family, as the children grew older, Marlene offered her time and secretarial skills to several charitable organizations, most notably the Canadian Diabetes Association. Her personal and entrepreneurial interests expanded – she took up rug braiding, brass rubbing (forming Tudor Images as a business for selling her works), willingly assisted in neighbourhood yard sales, and spent countless hours assisting charities in selling their used clothing and household items.
Marlene was always eager to expand her knowledge and life experience. Whether it was a three-month camping trip to Europe in 1961 (including Berlin just before the Wall was built), a year in Brussels in the late ‘70s along with her then teen-age children or a year in Australia in the mid ‘90s, her response was always totally positive with a willingness to do everything she could to make the adventure a memorable success. Many subsequent ocean cruises added to a total of over 50 countries she and Craig visited. For more than 40 years she and Craig sailed Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River during the summer months, often with family and friends, and spent countless days and nights securely berthed on their Dock Island, in the heart of the Thousand Islands. Marlene was always a dedicated sailor, extending her duties and commitment from the galley to the foredeck and the helm.
Cremation has taken place. A celebration of her life will be held in the chapel at James Reid Funeral Home, 1900 John Counter Blvd. on Wednesday, September 19 at 2:00 pm, followed by a reception. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to Diabetes Canada or a charity of choice would be appreciated.
