Obituary of Marjorie Isabel Burns

Marjorie Burns of Regina, SK, 86 years young, passed away peacefully from cancer on Thursday, June 15, 2023 at Regina Wascana Grace Hospice. Marjorie was predeceased by her husband Gerald (Gerry) Burns; daughter Emily; and brother Bob (Jennie) Anderson. She is survived by; daughter Donna (Paul) Longley and grandson Erik of Victoria, BC; son John (Kim) Burns and grandchildren Matthew, Michael, and Jennifer of Regina, SK, and her brother Jim (Lorraine) Anderson of Mississauga, ON.

Marjorie often spoke of her happy childhood living on a wheat farm near Craik, with loving parents, family and good memories of neighbours and the one-room school. Her mother, neighbours and teachers introduced her to music at an early age which became her lifelong passion. Her first voice teacher was Mrs. White, wife of the Craik Postmaster. She and Gerry were married in 1960 at the Foxbury United Church across the road from the country school.

Marjorie lived all her adult life in Regina and was a teacher in many of the city’s schools. As a mature student, she obtained a B.Ed (English and Music) from the University of Regina.

Marjorie embraced life with vitality that infected others. Her love of music led to many years of inclusion in the music life of Regina, as a singer, performer, actor, chorister, teacher, choir conductor, adjudicator, and more. She performed many solo roles in plays, operas and concerts as well as being a member of such prestigious groups as the Hewettes and the Elizabethan Singers of Regina. Marjorie conducted the Junior Conservatory Choir and Whitmore Park Junior church choir. She was a Clinician for the Saskatchewan Music Educators, a presenter at Professional Development In-Service sessions for the Regina Board of Education and an Adjudicator for the Saskatchewan Music Festivals. Marjorie funded two Regina Music Festival Folk song scholarships. After retirement she founded the Retired Teachers Choir. Throughout all of this she developed lasting friendships with many who shared her love of music as well as art, books and literature.

Life in the arts community and the general community was also important to her. It was her nature to participate, to support, to listen, and to encourage. Marjorie’s sense of humour, personality and dedication kept people interested which, along with her musical abilities, enabled students to take on difficult music as well as familiar songs. She could be relied upon to help out where needed - providing rides, baking and delivering foods, and more. She worked with the "Regina Food for Learning" program that provides meals to hungry children.

Marjorie and Gerry experienced a traumatic event with the death of their daughter Emily at the age of 24. With the help of the family and the community around her, Marjorie and Gerry healed to the extent a parent can and moved forward with living.

A highlight of her later years was a trip with Donna to London, Bath, and France, which included attending the parade at the Bath Jane Austen Festival (her favourite author) and to mingle with the 500 costumed participants.

Marjorie’s family will long remember her as a loving mother and grandmother, who was always interested in their lives and constantly supporting in every way.

Marjorie had the very best care at Regina Wascana Grace Hospice. In her last days there, she was visited by friends, colleagues, and choral groups to sing spirituals and other pieces.

Special thanks to Very Reverend Michael H. Sinclair, Dean of St. Paul’s Cathedral and Chaplain Cliff Geiger at Hospice.

Funeral Service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 29, 2023 at St. Paul’s Cathedral, 1861 McIntyre St, Regina, SK. For those unable to attend, a livestream may be viewed at www.facebook.com/StPaulsAnglicanCathedralRegina.

Please join us in remembering Marjorie by sharing your online thoughts or memories at the Paragon Funeral Services website. www.paragonfuneralservices.com

Donations in memory of Marjorie may be made to “Regina Food for Learning”, reginafoodforlearning.com