To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die.
Obituary
With hearts full of gratitude and sorrow, we announce the passing of our beloved mother, Marjorie K Ford (née Mollie), who took her final bow — unafraid and with an open heart on May 11, 2026, at the remarkable age of 105. A woman of extraordinary beauty, strength, and grace, she lived over a full century as a force of nature — loving, adventurous, supportive and unforgettable.
Mollie was a wonderful wife of 58 years for Francis Ford; a proud and guiding mother of Richard, Geoffre and Peter; a supportive grandmother and great-grandmother; and a generous friend to many. Mollie touched the lives of everyone she met and will be deeply missed by all of us.
A memorial service in celebration of Mollie’s life will be held at:
Christ Church Gabriola,
2600 South Rd., Gabriola Island, BC,
on July 11th, 2026. Timing and other details will be added to this site when finalized.
Mollie's History
Mollie’s life has been anything but ordinary. Born in England on March 8, 1921, she spent much of her first seven years living in India and Africa before returning to England with her parents and settling in Purley, south of London.
She earned her teaching degree just as WWII began and spent the war years teaching kindergarten in London — collecting enough stories from wartime London to fill a book. Alongside teaching, Mollie had a lifelong love of music and spent decades playing and teaching piano.
In 1950, she married Frank in London, and together they immediately set off on an adventurous life abroad. After three years in the Middle East — and the birth of their first son, Richard, in Nazareth, Israel — the young family emigrated to Calgary in 1953. Geoffrey arrived in 1954, Peter in 1957, and the family spent more than 25 happy years in Calgary.
Mollie wore many hats over the years: piano teacher, knitter extraordinaire, church and community volunteer, business assistant, as well as enthusiastic supporter of every hobby, recital, sport, and adventure her children and grandchildren pursued.
In 1980, Mollie and Frank retired to Gabriola Island, where they built their dream home and quickly became part of the fabric of the community. To this day, it’s hard to find someone on Gabriola who doesn’t know Mollie.
Travel was another great passion. Mollie and Frank made annual pilgrimages to Maui and Palm Desert and explored everywhere from Europe and the Far East to Australia and beyond. Even into her mid-90s, Mollie was still vacationing in Mexico and organizing family cruises.
After Frank passed away in 2008, Mollie continued living independently in her Gabriola home until the remarkable age of 100. At 99, she was still driving her car, playing piano and organizing church events — proving that slowing down was never really her style.
In 2021, Mollie moved to assisted living at Kiwanis and a couple of years later to Dufferin Place, where she enjoyed excellent care and support from their wonderful staff.
Today, Mollie is the proud matriarch of 3 sons, 7 grandchildren, and 8 great-grandchildren — all of whom are incredibly proud of their amazing 105-year-old Nana.
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Together, let us continue the legacy of compassion and kindness that Mollie embodied throughout their life.
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