MARJORIE ANNE SAUDER

March 3, 1929 – November 20, 2021

Mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt and friend, our mum died peacefully at home with her family around her. She was predeceased by her parents and brother, whom she adored, and her beloved husband of 58 years, Bill Sauder. She is mourned by her treasured family members each of whom loved her deeply: her children Claire (Jamie), Lawrence (Barb), Cindy, Marcia (Michael), Andrea, Leigh (Pat), Bill, Matt, her grandchildren Anna (Alistair), Amy (Derek), Sophie (Cam), Lucy (Rob), Henry (Heather), Will (Frances), Michael (Erina), Victoria (Chris), Rachel (Rhett), Ty, Andrew (Hayley), Selina (Llowyn), Olivia (Dan), Patrick, Nate, Dora, Jacqueline (Matt), Alexander, Matt (Jenna), Isabelle, Theodore, William, Nicolaus, Charlotte, her great-grandchildren Lewis, Frederick, George, Lucy, Chloe, Sam, Tom, Cecily, Beatrice, Oliver, Lily, Madeleine, Penelope, Audrey, Milei, Kiya, Leia, Rosie, Elliott, Cameron, Harvey, Grace, her sister-in-law Marj Munnis, and her nephews and nieces Murray, Joan, John (Samira), Paul (Katie), and Karen. Our mum was a beauty, glamorous in pearls and silk for a party, and stylish even when grocery shopping. Equally, she was happy to wear old clothes to garden in the rain, and to let her hair down in the Maui surf, where she earned the nickname Pooch. She was a good sport and a lot of fun. She water-skied, snow-skied, bodysurfed, played tennis and pickleball, went parasailing. She demonstrated handstands and won every egg and spoon race at our Sports Days. She was a champion stone skipper and loved to swim in Cate’s Bay. With our dad, our mum gave the best of herself to create and nurture a loving family. Her care for us extended for 71 years, from taking the stairs two at a time after her own toddlers to greeting her five-day old greatgranddaughter in her last days. Her love and generosity have shaped us all. Mum was endlessly generous. She gave her time to serve on boards, host church teas, canvas for the Sally Ann. She gave financially to mental health, children, education, gardens, health research, the church. She quietly gave money directly to people she knew were in need. But most remarkably, mum was generous with her attention. She listened intently and empathetically and showed genuine interest in people, regardless of achievement, popularity or status. Even so, mum was no saint. Despite near daily efforts to recreate the miracle of the loaves and fishes, she was never able to feed the ten of us with four servings. Although physically slight (teased for having legs like hockey sticks and told she was too fragile to bear children), our mum was stalwart. She knew what the right thing was and did it, even when exhausted. She wrote the note of appreciation, made the phone call, dropped off the flowers, and made sure someone struggling knew they mattered. Our mum had a rich and full life which included travel, meeting distinguished people, and a full calendar. Even so, in later years when mum was frail, she still found great pleasure in simple joys, and shared her appreciation for a walk in the sun, a drive in the park, the after-swim Sauder soup in her Bowen hot tub, an old song or the voice of a long-time friend. For nearly twenty years, Dominga Asuncion has cared for mum with gentleness, humour, love and patience and mum loved her like a daughter. For seven years, Freda Gatchalian has also provided tender and fond care. We are very grateful for their devotion and compassion. We’d like to thank the people from Evergreen who brought their competence and warmth to mum’s house, especially Margaret, Kate, Annie, Marichu and Flavia. We are grateful to Janet Segat for her dedicated and efficient assistance, creative problem-solving, and for always keeping mum’s welfare at heart. Special friends Debra Tonita, Rick Jones, Mrs. Uyeyama and Lily Ma have been wonderful, faithful visitors. Mum’s friendship with Barbara Ann Milroy was life-long, deep and nourishing - filled with giggles at inappropriate times, shared sorrows, and visits where holding hands was enough. Beauty, sport, mother, giver, friend, eternal ear - Mum, you’ve done and done and done. We thank you, we love you, and we miss you terribly. A memorial service will be held in late January, details to be announced early in the New Year. In lieu of flowers, please donate to a charity close to your heart.

Walkey & Company Funeral Directors 604 738-0006