Obituary of Marion Hodgson

October 26, 1932 – Luscar, Alberta

July 21, 2024 – Calgary, Alberta

Marion Hodgson passed away peacefully on July 21, 2024, at the age of 91 years after a wonderful long life of caring for others. Mom (Grandma) will be forever lovingly remembered by her four children, Lynn (Tom Rafter), Ross (Maggie), Laura (Brian Wasko), and Greg (Patti); ten grandchildren, Katherine, Steven, Christina, Gregory, Gavin, Lyndsay, Mark, Connor, Adam, and Erin; and five great-grandchildren, Wyatt, Weston, Rowan, Daxton, and Mila.

Marion was the youngest of three children of Victor and Teresa (Ciciarelli) Girardi. She had one sister, Rita Stelter (deceased), and one brother Richard Girardi (deceased). She was born in Luscar, AB, and when she was a baby, her family moved to Cadomin where her dad worked in the coal mine. Marion spent her childhood in Cadomin until she was in Grade 12 when the family moved to Edson, AB. After high school, Marion enrolled in nursing and graduated from the Misericordia Nursing School in Edmonton in 1954. Marion was the editor of the Student Nurse yearbook.

After receiving her RN, she worked at the Mayerthorpe Hospital for one year and then went to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore where she took a postgraduate course in operating room technique. She returned to Alberta where she worked briefly at the Grand Prairie Hospital as Operating Room Supervisor and at the Edmonton General Hospital as Operating Room Clinical Instructor. During this time, she met the love of her life, Alan Hodgson, a young engineer with Shell Oil. They were married in 1958 for 59 years until Al’s passing in 2017.

Marion and Al both enjoyed travel and they lived in Edmonton, Calgary, New Orleans, and Aberdeen, Scotland. In retirement, they spent eighteen winters in Mesa, AZ, where they made many lasting friends and were active tennis players. The love of nature was an important part of Marion’s life and the family spent many years camping. She had a green thumb and was always happy working in her garden. Marion was also a volunteer with St. Bonaventure Parish, Meals on Wheels, and Southland Nursing Home.

The children and grandchildren were the most important part of Marion’s life, and all were given a warm welcome when they visited. She ALWAYS had delicious chocolate chip cookies for their visits.

Special thanks to the caring staff at Holy Cross Manor Memory Care 2, Peter Lougheed Hospital Unit 52, Agecare Skypoint Hospice, and the companions from A Friend Indeed.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Bonaventure Catholic Church (1600 Acadia Drive S.E., Calgary, AB) on Friday, August 9, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. Reception to follow in the Parish Hall.

If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Mustard Seed Street Ministry, 102 – 11 Avenue S.E., Calgary, AB T2G 0X5 Telephone: (403) 269-1319, www.theseed.ca or a charity of your choice.

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with Marion’s family here.

In living memory of Marion Hodgson, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Park Memorial, 5008 Elbow Drive SW, Calgary, AB T2S 2L5, Telephone: 403-243-8200.