Obituary of McQuade, Marie Bernadine

Marie Bernadine McQuade (nee McKinley (1923 - 2020) was an elegant and graceful woman who inspired many people during her life with her charm, determination, wit, wisdom and positive outlook. She always said that if you do the impossible things first you can do the hard things later. She said only recently that she had lived a good life, skipped a lot of stones, had lots of fine champagne and many boxes of chocolates. Marie's family were one of the original homesteaders of what is now Fundy National Park, N.B. When her brother married an elegant woman Marie decided that was who she would be in life. She moved to Montreal at 17 and worked in the munitions factory during the war and then Emory furs sewing coats by hand. She met her husband Wally McQuade and worked alongside him in many ventures in Quebec throughout their lives (Rainbow Lodge Fish and Game Club, Chibougama), Mount Echo Ski Hill and Motel (Knowlton) and The Carriage House Hotel (Morin Heights) as well as working as a real estate agent and raising her family. She was an excellent cook, a gracious hostess, an avid gardener and interior decorator and dressed beautifully every day of her life. One friend tells the story that Marie is the only woman she ever saw laying paving stones in a linen suit. Upon retirement Marie and Wally moved to Victoria on Vancouver Island and ran the Elk Lake Lodge Bed and Breakfast. When Wally passed away Marie moved in with Charles and Jill as grandma to Sara and Shane. After 12 wonderful years Marie moved in with Carol who eventually brought her to PEI where she lived for 12-1/2 wonderful years in the oceanfront community of Schurman's point where she made many dear lifelong friends. Marie was predeceased by her husband Wally McQuade, five of his six sisters and spouses; Mildred, Eunice (Bill McLeod), Florence (Frank Wright), Roberta, Ethel (Bill Scott), Ella (John Gauthier) as well as ten of her eleven brothers, sisters and spouses; Louis (Florence), Elmer (Bernice), Annie (Lester Leaman), Viola (Lorne Brantnall), Teressa (Vince Kelly), Gladys (Maurice McCarron), Stella (Tom Quillan), Clara (Clark Kierstead), Maisie (Graydon Martin), Donald, and Harold Smith as well as many wonderful friends. She is survived and will be sadly missed by her three children; Charles (Jill), Carol, Bruce (Debbie), grandchildren Derek (Leslie), Sara, Shane, great grandson Anderson, sister Winnie (Smith), sisters in-law Lucy McKinley and Bea McQuade, and many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends too numerous to list. Per Marie's wish she is to be cremated with no service or funeral. She asks that instead of sending flowers, she would like anyone who wishes to remember her to do something nice for themselves and have a wee drink of champagne and a chocolate to remember her by. The family would like to thank Dr. Reisch and the Palliative Home Care Team for the exceptional care and comfort they provided to Marie at the end of her life. It was a life well lived.