Marjorie R. Belben, R.N.M.S
Beloved sister and aunt, passed peacefully surrounded by her family on February 6, 2017 in San Francisco at St. Francis Memorial Hospital, following a fall.
She was the eldest daughter born to Herbert and Catherine (Sarah) Belben on July 22, 1923. Early on while helping her mother care for her (4) siblings, Barbara (Pete), Beverly (Eddie), Herbert, Jr. (Gloria) & Paul (Susan), she quickly realized education would be the key to her having a better more fulfilling life.
Marge embraced many years of schooling; Golden Gate Academy in Berkeley ‘41, Pacific Union College ‘43, St. Francis Memorial Hospital Nursing Diploma ‘47 (when it was both a hospital and school), Univ. of Seattle Bachelors in Nursing ‘52, UCSF Masters in Nursing ‘63 and Nurse Practitioner Certificate ‘73.
Her education was the start of a diverse and extraordinary nursing career which spanned more than 40 years. She taught Nursing Education in four types of programs, then became Charge Nurse for the Family Planning Clinic & later an OB/GYN Nurse at SF General and Occupational Health Nurse for various private companies. After serving as the PHS/FOH Health Clinic Coordinator in SF, she retired from nursing ‘93.
With such a trailblazing career for a woman born in the 20’s, one might have the impression Marge was “all work and no play” but nothing could be farther from the truth. She was adventurous, generous with her time, never ending in her support and above all else - always optimistic. She & her longtime companion, Marjorie “Budgie” Hildebrand (who passed in 1993), shared a life filled with an abundance of laughter. Together they hosted wonderful parties and holidays which were always special for the Hildebrand and Belben families – so much so that one may have thought they were one very large family.
She leaves her sister, Barbara of San Francisco, brothers Herb of San Rafael and Paul (Susan) of Bellingham, WA and multiple generations of nieces, nephews.
Our hearts ache to know our family matriarch has passed. Over her remarkable 93 years, she selflessly touched the lives of so many.
A private service honoring her memory will be held on Saturday, March 4, 2017. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Saint Francis Foundation (saintfrancisfoundation.org) and designate funds towards the Nursing Program.