Marjorie Plotnikoff

Marj, as she was known to everyone, passed away peacefully on Boxing Day 2019. Marj liked to tell the story of how her Dad registered her birth as Martha “P” Fofonoff on December 24, 1933, when her actual birthday was December 15. She was the fourth child born to Paul and Anne Fofonoff in Queenstown, Alberta. They left farm life in Alberta when Marjorie was 14 years old and settled in Creston. She grew up in the Doukhobor faith and then her spiritual longings were fulfilled by her belief in Eckankar. Marjorie attended Creston High School where she was described as a brilliant student and very shy. After graduation, she attended the Pacific Normal School in Victoria where she obtained her teaching certificate. Marjorie’s first teaching job was in a small school in Michel-Natal, near Sparwood and she also taught elementary school in Erickson, Canyon, Lister, Wynndel and Yahk. A matchmaker brought Marjorie and Nick Plotnikoff together and from that union four children were born, Darryl, Leda, Nadine and Jim. After briefly living in Nelson and Kimberley, they settled in Erickson. They remained there until their children were launched and in 1989 moved permanently to their lakefront property where they happily hosted family and friends for many years. Marj’s love of gardening was still flourishing and even the mosquitoes couldn’t keep her away from the garden and flower beds she lovingly tended.

Marjorie loved her role as mother and that role expanded in 1967 when her sister’s children were orphaned. Her love for her family is legendary to all who know her. That was her superpower. Her greatest joy was when the grandchildren came along and she was an integral part of their upbringing. Marj never missed a hockey game when Alex, Chris, Anna, Katia, Ethan, Kale or Trey were playing and spent many happy days floating on inner tubes with every grandchild on Kootenay Lake. She made it to all the high school graduations, including Sam and Isabelle’s in Victoria. Marj was the glue who kept the branches of her extended family together and the reunions of both the Fofonoff and Plotnikoff families hold sustaining memories for everyone. She was interested in every aspect of each member of her family and imparted words of wisdom as and when needed. Marj was the family photographer who chronicled all the gatherings, celebrations and milestones, sometimes to the agony of her subjects. She spent the better part of one winter sorting, dating and naming thousands of photos into albums and her subjects are now happy to have those memories in print.

Left to celebrate her life are her children, Leda, Nadine and Jim, her daughter-in-law Marcie, grandchildren Alex, Chris, Anna, Katia, Sam, Isabelle, Ethan, Kale and Trey, great grandchildren, Mya, Macy and Maximus and many nieces and nephews, and her sisters-in law Nellie and Elena.

Marj was predeceased by her husband Nick, her siblings Anne, Mable and Nick, and her son Darryl.

A Celebration of Life will be held on May 9 in Creston, BC at a venue and time to be determined.

Special thanks to Janine and Amanda who made Marj’s last days easier by their warm and caring natures.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the

B.C. Children’s Hospital Foundation, 938 West

28th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4H4.

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