Vale Marjorie Nell Orchard (nee Grove).
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Marjorie was born in Hurstville on June 17, 1919 and moved to Lidsdale with her family when she was six years old.
She attended Blackmans Flat school by walking from Angus Place each day across the paddocks as there was no other transport.
In later years Marjorie attended Lithgow High School, usually delivered on the back of a truck along with other children from Lidsdale as this was the only means of transport at the time.
On finishing school at sixteen, Marjorie worked in the office of her brothers' sawmill, at the bottom of Neubeck's Hill at Lidsdale, as a bookkeeper. At the age of 22 she married William Ernest (Ernie) Orchard in St John's Church on November 29, 1941.
They led a happy life with lots of tennis parties, dances in the local area and raising four children along the way.
Marjorie was involved with the Women's Guild who organised fetes and fundraisers for the church and also helped in the school canteen.
She worked in her brother's shop, TS and EB Grove, at Portland for 14 years and formed a lot of friendships with the people of Portland.
In 1979 Marjorie contracted Guillain-Barré syndrome and was paralysed in both legs for a time but with intense physiotherapy recovered to a bearable level but was unable to continue playing tennis.
This led Marjorie to taking up card playing which she did with several friends taking turns in holding the games at each others homes. As time went on, Marjorie outlived all her card playing friends and was left with playing Housie every Wednesday at the Portland RSL.
She did this with a passion as well and very little would persuade her to give up her day out meeting up with her friends.
Marjorie was an avid Scrabble player and no matter who visited her in later years she always suggested a game of which she was very proficient and very strict about the rules. Crosswords and reading books were other pastimes which kept her brain active.
In her eighties, Marjorie was given a computer with card games on it and this became another challenge which she took in her stride and spent many a happy hour working on winning.
Marjorie was still cooking baked dinners with dessert for her family, driving her car, making apple pies for the Portland Pensioners street stalls and helping to clean St John's Church at the age of 97 until a bad bout of the flu affected her health.
Marjorie's faith in her religion was always strong, attending church and enjoying her pastoral friendships. She cherished her time with her family and friends.
She moved in with her daughter and son in law in 2017, but succumbed to a stroke in March 2018 which affected her speech.
Showing her determination, Marjorie had intense speech therapy and learned to speak again. In January of this year when her health deteriorated further, nursing home care was required.
The staff at Tanderra were wonderful and so caring in her time with them for which we are very grateful.
Marjorie Nell Orchard passed away on June 11, 2019 just six days short of her 100th birthday.
Her birthday was celebrated on June 17 at her wake with a beautiful cake made by Denise Robinson and a rousing rendition of Happy Birthday amid tears and cheers.
Marjorie received cards from Prime Minister Scott Morrison; Governor General Sir Peter Cosgrove and his wife; Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II; a certificate from Federal Member Andrew Gee; as well as her family and friends to commemorate her 100th year.
Geoffrey, Janice, Roslyn and Stephen, along with Marjorie's 10 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren would like to extend our sincere thanks to all those whose lives were touched by our dear mother and who came to celebrate her life with us.
Special thanks to Tanderra Aged Care Staff, Mrs Jeanette Higginbotham for her lovely music and Pastor Stephen Fong who conducted a beautiful service at mum's beloved St John's Church.
The bells tolled for her one last time.
