April 5, 1926 - November 24, 2018
Margaret Lois Coates (nee Istvanffy), born April 5th, 1926, Calgary, AB, died November 24th, 2018 in Vernon, BC. Marge grew up on a small farm near Irricana, with two brothers and two sisters, who all predeceased her.
After high school in Calgary, she studied nursing at Holy Cross Hospital. She worked as a nurse in Nelson, BC, having fallen in love with the roses of the city. There she met Richard Coates, whom she married in 1951. They had three children, Janice (Terry Mori) of Vernon, Kenneth (Carin Holroyd) of Saskatoon, and Colin (Megan Davies) of Toronto. Marge and Dick moved with his civil engineering work to Banff, Revelstoke, Whitehorse and Tsawwassen. They relocated to Vernon in 1995, just a few weeks before Dick's death. She carried Dick's love with her always. Marge so appreciated how Mariye and the Mori clan included her in their family events. She particularly loved her time in the Yukon, maintaining contact with her friends from the North through the rest of her life.
A sly card shark, Marge read voraciously and laughed infectiously. Her travels to Asia, Europe and Africa delighted her. Throughout her life, she was involved in volunteer work, including the Delta Hospital Auxiliary, Arthritis Society, IODE, Fujinkai (VJCS), and the Anglican Church. Although arthritis limited her mobility in later years, her mind remained sharp and her memory prodigious. She loved the debate, especially with her "boys".
Marge loved family, including her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Deni (Yannick and daughter Maia), Kelsey (daughter Ellie), Bradley (Nikki and children Katie and Christopher), Mark (Gillian and children Hazel and Oliver), Laura (Josh and children William, Spencer, Victoria), Marlon, Hana, Mab and Bryn.
Sincere thanks to the nurses of 6th floor VJH and Dr. Long for their care of our mother in her last weeks, and to the staff at Coldstream Meadows, especially Phyllis and Carrie, for their many kindnesses.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. In honour of Mom's strong belief in giving to community, donations may be made, if desired, to the Smart & Caring Community Fund at the Community Foundation of North Okanagan (https://cfno.org/).
Cremation arrangements have been made with Bethel Funeral Chapel, 5605 27th Street, Vernon, B.C. V1T 8Z5 (250) 542-1187.