Margaret Marion Anderson

Three months shy of her 108th birthday, Marion Anderson’s engine stopped working (her wish). Marion passed away on July 1, 2026, in The Ottawa Hospital Civic Campus following a stroke she suffered on June 23rd. Mom was pre-deceased by her parents Gordon and Maye (nee Prior) Elliott and her husband of 70 years, George Cranston Anderson (born in Edinburgh, Scotland). She was also pre-deceased by 17 first cousins and 16 brothers and sister in laws. Mom had no siblings. Left behind are sons Colin, Gordon, Carole (deceased), and Garth (Cathie), six grandsons, one granddaughter, three great granddaughters, two great grandsons and one great great granddaughter.

Mon was born in the farmhouse of her grandparents, William and Margaret Prior (Boyce), in Litchfield, just north of Campbell’s Bay in the Pontiac, Que. She was raised on farms in North Clarendon, Vinton and Campbell’s Bay. In the early 30s, her family left the farming life and moved to a home in Campbell’s Bay when her dad took over a bakery that supplied town folk and the rural area. The travel bug was in the family, and in 1934, they went West to visit extended family along the way, eventually reaching Calgary and Banff. In 1940, Mom moved to Ottawa to attend a hairdressers course. Upon graduating, she spent the next five years working at Mildorf Circle Beauty Salon at 418 Bank St. At a dinner party hosted by her boss, she met a volunteer who had enlisted in the Canadian Navy in 1941, in his hometown of Calgary. In June 1945 they were married. They went on to have 3 sons and raised them in the Westboro and Carlingwood areas. Mom continued to work part time at a beauty salon in the west end until it closed. She then went to work at Carlingwood Shopping Centre and over time became a Sears sales associate in the shoe department.

With all that going on, we still had time as a family to start camping, from Silver Lake to Lake Simcoe, eventually we ventured farther afield going out West twice to visit families in Calgary and Vancouver Island and then East to Nova Scotia and PEI to see more family. With the boys off doing their own thing trips were to Myrtle Beach and Tampa to see Dad’s brother and sister in law. After the house was empty of sons, and upon retirement, they looked east to Scotland, England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Ireland, and the Continent. Trips with dads bother, sister or family friends.

From dressmaking to knitting sweaters, toques, and socks, mom was always busy. As a young child, she had been on bed rest for some time so to occupy herself, she began quilting. She picked this up again later in life. Mom was a member of the Ottawa Quilters Guild and the Ottawa Valley Quilters Guild. She made quilts for her sons, daughter in laws, grandsons, granddaughter, nieces, and friends. Mum made baby quilts for the neonatal care units, raffles, and church bazaars. She started entering her quilts into competitions. In the mid 90’s she won best of show at the Carp Fair, Grand Champion Capital Agrifest, Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies, Grand Prize for best overall quilt at the Ottawa Exhibition, as well as a first prize.

Mom, it is now time to enjoy your rest. Love Colin, Gord, Garth, Cathie, and your extended family in Canada and the USA.

Family and friends may call at the Westboro Chapel of Tubman Funeral Home, 403 Richmond Road, at Roosevelt on Friday, July 31, from 2-4 and 7-9 PM. Funeral Service will be held in the Chapel on Saturday, Aug. 1 at 11:00 AM.

A private burial will be held at a later date.