Almonte Country Haven

Almonte, Ont. Residents 82 Infected residents More than 80 per cent Deaths 23 Infected staff Unknown Staff deaths 0

Marjorie Watt 1939-2020

Marjorie Watt was a woman with many passions, but at the top of the list were sewing, dancing, laughter and Elvis Presley. Combining them was all the better —— hence the time some years back when she sewed her own Elvis jumpsuit for a talent show performance.

“Her silly side was awesome,” said Jennifer Watt, one of Marjorie’s three daughters. “When the family would get together, if we just got started, it was like — you couldn’t eat, you’d laugh until you cried and your stomach hurt.”

Marjorie, 80, died of complications related to COVID-19 on April 18, with her husband by her side. In their 60 years of marriage, Marjorie and James Watt, 83, were rarely apart. The family even managed to secure them a shared room in their long-term care home, Almonte Country Haven.

Both had challenging childhoods — Marjorie was raised by relatives in New Brunswick, and James lived in foster care. But they were remarkably resilient, building a life and a family together after meeting in Montreal in the 1950s.

“For two people that didn’t have parents, they really did stick together. They were dedicated to each other,” said Eileen, the eldest Watt daughter.

James was an electrician, while Marjorie stayed home to raise the girls and undertake endless projects around the house. Later on, the ardent seamstress scored her dream job working at a fabric store.

She was like a second mother to her daughters’ friends, and a devoted mother to her own, even as they grew into adulthood. Her patience was extraordinary — Eileen doesn’t recall Marjorie ever losing her temper (although she would certainly voice her opinion).

Louise Watt, her youngest, treasures the moments when she and Marjorie would sit outside, drinking tea and playing cribbage.

“She was just always there,” Louise remembers. “We’re all going to miss her.”