Jessie "Marilyn" Verge

Jessie "Marilyn" (Guest) Verge, age 85, of New Minas, NS. died Monday, April 22, 2024 at Valley Hospice in Kentville, NS.

Born May 4, 1938, in the Inverness Memorial Hospital, Inverness, Inverness Co. Cape Breton. She was the second oldest daughter of eight children of the late Cora Eveline Cameron, 1915-2010, of Dunmore, Inverness, Co. Cape Breton and the late John Arnold Guest, 1911-1995, British Home Child of Birmingham, England.

Marilyn was raised at Glencoe Station, Inverness Co. Cape Breton and received her early education there. After completing high school at the Port Hood Academy she attended the Nova Scotia Normal Teachers College in Truro, NS. Graduating in June 1957, her first teaching position was in Sheet Harbour, Halifax Co. NS, where she met her husband to be, Cecil Murray Verge, who at the time was working at the Royal Bank in Halifax, NS. They were married in St. Michael and All Angels Anglican Church, Sheet Harbour on June 20, 1959. She then taught at Hampton Gray, Shearwater, Dartmouth, NS. She did substituting at various other schools in Dartmouth, NS. She taught in Lockeport and several other schools in Shelburne Co, NS., as well as Somerset School, Kings Co. and substituted at other Kings Co. schools.

In 1981/2 she attended Windsor Regional Vocational School, graduating with her CNA Nursing degree, attaining the highest average in the entire school. She was on the staff of the Miller Hospital, Kentville, NS. until she retired in 1989.

She belonged to the IODE in Lockeport holding the offices of secretary and standard-bearer. She was secretary of the Lockeport Home & School Association and taught Sunday school at Holy Cross Anglican Church, Lockeport and was a member of the church ladies guild. She was a member of the former Kentville Hospital Auxiliary (Twig) New Minas branch and worked as a volunteer with the Canadian Red Cross equipment loan unit for many years. Marilyn was a member and belonged to the ACW of St. James Anglican Church, Kentville, NS., where she was a secretary for several years. Marilyn was also a member of Orchard Valley United Church, New Minas.

Marilyn was a very family loving and caring person who enjoyed gardening, tole painting, knitting, camping, and family gatherings, especially family times at their summer place at Willow Lane, Glencoe Station, Cape Breton. She was an avid square dancer, being a member of the Harbourlights Twirlers in Shelburne, Haley Dancers, Kentville, Rainbow Dancers, Somerset & Welsford and the Apple Valley Dancers of Aylesford.

She is survived by her soulmate and loving husband of 65 years, Cecil Murray Verge; son, Kenneth Brian of Glencoe Station, Cape Breton and grandson, Corey Evan Verge, of Drayton Valley, Alberta; daughter, Judith Anne Verge (Tom Grant), of New Minas, grandchildren, Nicole Nadine Charumski, and Kyle James Charumski, and their father James Charumski of Bedford, great-granddaughter, Marley Marie Keizer of Lawrencetown Halifax Co. NS; daughter, Cheryl Arlene Ezekiel (Edward) of New Minas and grandson Lukas Alexander Ezekiel (Ryan) of Truro, NS; daughter, Valerie Lynn Baran (James), granddaughter, Emily Faye, of Arizona, step grandchildren, Jacob, Becky and Jessica Baran all of San Diego, California, USA; brother-in-law, J Robert "Bob" Younker (Betty), of Halifax, NS; sisters, Rosemary Jacqueline Guest, Inverness, Cape Breton; Annie Laura Chiasson, Glencoe Station, Cape Breton; Alice Viola Guest and Jim Usatis, Toronto, ON; Ruth Sarah Guest (Warren McNamara), Glencoe Station. Edna Florence Guest, Halifax, NS; many nieces, nephews, and cousins also survive her. She was predeceased by her only brother, Cameron Dennison Guest 1940-2014 and her sister, Gloria Eveline Younker 1936-2017.

Cremation has taken place, and there will be no visitation as per Marilyn’s wishes. A celebration of life service, followed by reception, will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, April 29, 2024 in the White Family Funeral Home, Kentville. Burial to take place at a later date in St. Michaels and All Angels Anglican Cemetery, Sheet Harbour, NS. Donations in memory may be made to the Valley Hospice Foundation, Unhoused Shelters in Kentville, Orchard Valley United Church, Kentville, or charity of choice. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Kentville.