Another milestone birthday was celebrated COVID-19 style last week at Ladner’s Augustine House.
Just after 4 p.m. on Wednesday, March 10 a few of Marjorie Francis’ family members came by and wished her a very Happy Birthday – social distancing style with signs and balloons. She was smiling and her family were really happy to see her – even from a few feet apart.
According to Augustine House, the residents also got a chance to celebrate this milestone occasion with a lovely birthday celebration in Haven House.
Francis was born in Montreal on March 10, 1919 and graduated as a registered nurse from Montreal General Hospital in 1942.
She is a Second World War veteran, having served in the Royal Canadian Medical Army Corps. She sailed on the Leticia to Southampton, England to care for Canadian soldiers.
In 1945 she married Archie Francis in Montreal and then moved to Vancouver where they lived for 45 years.
The couple settled in Ladner in 1990. Archie passed away in 2004, the same year she moved to Augustine House.
Besides her four children, Francis has nine grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren.
She is an avid reader and dabbles in painting. She also enjoys watching old black and white movies on TV.
Her daughter Carol Ann Alps told the Optimist in 2019 when we recognized her 100th birthday, that her mom loves living at Augustine House where the staff are friendly and respectful and that she has made many friends there.
Alps said that her mom created the Nifty Knitters Club where residents knit hats and scarves for the cancer society, Covenant House and Union Gospel Mission.
