100 years young!

Marion Hope, a retired school teacher, lives amongst one of her grade 3 students!  Who would have ever thought that Marion and Chris would be reunited nearly 80 years later? Chris remembers her first few days in grade 3 with Marion as her teacher. “I was so scared, coming from a one room school on the prairies, and what I can remember is I felt safe and cared for in Marion’s classroom.”

Marion was born on February 24, 1924 in Kamloops and raised by her parents, Henry and Ada Pickering.  Her father worked as an agent for the Canadian National Railroad at Chu Chua, B.C and her mother was a homemaker, keeping very busy with washing laundry on a washboard, baking bread, canning all kinds of produce and fruit and raising the children. The family lived in the railway station which had water from a hand pump in the kitchen but no electricity. Marion recalls her mother regularly cleaning lamp chimneys for the coal oil lamps which were used in the house as well as the office and waiting room of the station.

Marion was the oldest of three children with a younger brother and sister. In 1930, Marion started attending the one-room Chu Chua School where she quickly fell in love with everything to do with teaching, and knew from a young age that she would become a teacher one day. 

Despite hard times during this era, Marion and her family seemed to navigate them with some ease. Summers at Dunn Lake were always a good time with swimming and spending time conversing around a campfire. As a Canadian National Rail employee, Marion’s father had access to limited railway passes for the family and shipping privileges which would allow for Marion to become a snowbird at a young age! 

Eventually, Marion would go off to complete her Grade 11 and 12 year in New Westminster, while living with friends. During this time, her parents had moved to Lumby, B.C. In 1942, Marion attended Normal School to become a teacher and after graduating she landed a job at the Armstrong Consolidated School. Her salary during the first 3 years was $90 per month and her first class was grade 3, with 40 to 46 pupils per class. 

Marion would meet her husband to be at a non-denominational group called ‘Young Peoples.’ Dave Hope, a local dairy farmer, caught her eye, and for the next two years they courted and enjoyed many activities together. At the end of school in 1946, Marion resigned from her job, as married women at that time were not permitted to teach, so that the couple could marry. They were married on September 3, 1946 in Lumby.  The Woodlawn Jersey Farm on Mountain View Road in Spallumcheen would become home as a married couple. Marion would go on to learn how to milk cows, collect eggs, coil hay and took over the large garden which was already established on the farm.  Over the next five years, they had four children; Ted, Pat, George, and Margaret!

In 1956, Marion decided to return to the classroom as the ban for married women to teach was lifted. Her life was very busy with raising children, teaching children, keeping the home, and the list goes on and on; however, she thrived amidst it all! As a 4-H mom, Marion’s task included hosting meetings, making panel displays and listening to public speaking practice, and when she had a moment she would ensure that the children had clean white clothes for the exhibiting of their cattle at the Interior Provincial Exhibition! 

She joined the Eastern Star in 1967 and spent many hours with her Star sisters.  She and Dave were members of the Old Time Dance Club for decades and really enjoyed this activity together! Marion continued to teach full time until June of 1974, when the children were grown and well on their way with their own working careers. Following retirement, Dave and Marion would take time to travel. Travelling across Canada, flying overseas, and several cruises later, the couple enjoyed making many special memories. 

In 1987, the couple sold the farm and moved to Armstrong where they were involved in plans to create a permanent museum in addition to the archives that were already started. She continues to work there to this day! Marion continued to do some travelling and was very passionate about increasing her volunteer hours in the community; she even became the Armstrong’s Citizen of the Year in 2005!

Marion moved from her home into Heaton Place on June 1, 2023 at the young age of 99.  “She is just an amazing woman,” says Carrie O’Neill. “She is spry, wise, kind, and shares many interesting stories with us all.”  

Marion’s message to the world today is: “Work hard, volunteer in your community, and enjoy your life!”

Happy 100th Birthday Marion!