Margery Schrie (nee Redford)

Peacefully at Perley Health on January 7, 2022 at the age of 96 following a lengthy battle with vascular dementia.

Margery was born in Toronto to Raymond Thomas Redford and Margaret Redford (nee Beattie). She lived in Toronto until moving to Ottawa as a member of the Canadian Women’s Army Corp (CWAC) during WW2. While posted at the NRC labs at Rideau Falls, she met her future husband Fred Schrie. Margery stayed on at the labs as a civilian after the war ended and Fred continued in the army for another 30 years, taking them to postings in Camp Borden and Oromocto before returning to Ottawa in 1968. During this time, Fred and Margery started a family and were wonderful parents to their three children; Fred Jr. (Lynda), Norm (Joanne) and Maggie LeMay (Phil) and equally wonderful grandparents to Jennifer (Jeremy ), Laura (Brian), Katie (Raúl) and Ben (Bridget) and great-grandchildren Brandon, Caelan and Luna.

Margery was a bright, accomplished woman who loved to learn and to take on new challenges. She completed a 4 year high school diploma in 2 years and went on to have a successful career which included her army service and several years as Vice President of Bethel Blocks, a concrete company in Ottawa, all while raising 3 children. For several years, she embraced the life of a military wife, participating fully in every new community and taking on leadership roles such as Sunday School Superintendent in Camp Borden and choir director at her church near Oromocto, New Brunswick. Fred and Margery loved to dress up and always looked especially elegant when attending dinners at the Sergeants’ Mess. Margery was an accomplished seamstress and made most of her own gowns. In 1991, Margery, along with 3 other former Canadian Women’s Army Corp members, organized a very successful CWAC reunion in Ottawa. For many years, Margery and 3 of her fellow CWAC members laid a wreath at the National War Memorial on Remembrance Day. Even near the end of her career, Margery continued to embrace new learning and technology, studying French and learning to use a computer while in her 50’s.

Music continued to be very important to Margery throughout her life. In her teens she performed at Massey Hall as a member of a trio and was a dedicated member of the St. Peter’s Lutheran Church choir for many years. During her time at the Perley, she especially loved participating in their wonderful music programs.

Over the years, Fred and Margery travelled to the Caribbean, Alaska and Western Canada and enjoyed many camping trips in Ontario and throughout the Maritimes.

As an only child, Margery loved being part of Fred’s huge extended family and found great joy in being with her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and all of their significant others. She often remarked that she couldn’t quite believe that she had such a large family of her own. In 1996, after researching her mother’s family history without the help of the internet, Margery arranged a trip to Ireland with Fred and their dear friends Gwen and Vince. While there, she was able to meet her cousin Ethyl and other members of her extended family.

Margery and Fred were married for 58 years before his death in 2008. Around the time of Fred’s death, Margery was diagnosed with vascular dementia. Although her memory faded and her mind became muddled, she never lost the core of who she was. Until her passing, she remained sweet-natured and loving and enjoyed the time she spent with family and the wonderful staff at the Rideau-Perley Veterans Centre where she lived for the last 6 years. She was extremely well-loved and cared for by all of the staff and volunteers who treated her as if she were their own mother.

Margery will mostly be remembered for the kindness, love and dedication that she showed to her family and friends and will be dearly missed.

Due to the ongoing pandemic situation, a memorial service will be held at a later date, when we are able to gather more safely. For those wishing to do so, donations may be made to the Perley Health Foundation or the Alzheimer Society of Canada.