Marguerite Lee Canning

On December 19, 2021, Marguerite departed this earthly life in her 96th year to join the angels and saints in her eternal home with the Lord. Her final days were spent at her home in Durham, NC surrounded by loving family members and devoted caregivers for whom we are eternally grateful. Thank you, Carol, Gwen and Ruthy for your patience, compassion and expertise in caring for Mom over the past few years. Marguerite was born on August 4, 1925 to Mary and Joseph Scheidecker in Brooklyn, NY. She was the fifth of six children. Her faith formation began at home and at the local Roman Catholic Church, St. Michael’s. Always very fashionable and as much a social butterfly as her strict parents would permit, Marguerite graduated from Franklin K. Lane HS in Brooklyn, where she was voted “Best Looking” in her graduating class. It was there that she met her future husband and treasured, lifelong friends who called themselves “The Inskies”. Marg worked as a dental assistant before marrying Clifton H. Lee during a blizzard on February 3rd of 1951. It was then that she changed her career to become an outstanding family manager and home engineer from which she retired approximately 40 years later. Together, Marg and Clif raised 8 children and moved their household from an apartment on Pine Street, Brooklyn to a home of their own on Fairbury Avenue in Queens Village, NY. There, they enjoyed an active life at the YMCA, where Marguerite began her dedication to the practice of Yoga. Devoted to her Roman Catholic faith, Marguerite was an active member of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish where all of her children and some grandchildren received Sacraments. While residing in Queens Village, she walked just a few blocks to church most mornings to attend Mass and made certain that the family attended Sunday Mass, on a weekly basis. A member of the Rosary Altar Society, she provided support to her Church community through various ministries including fundraising, charities and Altar decorating. The latter involved taking all the Altar linens home to be laundered, ironed and returned just a few days later. After all, what’s a little more laundry when you’re already washing for a family of 10? As her younger children ventured off to school, Marguerite could be found in the Gift Shop at Long Island Jewish Hospital where she volunteered once a week. She listened to stories, comforted worried visitors and assisted people in selecting gifts that might bring a little joy or comfort to their ailing loved ones. Her charity did not stop there. She was also a volunteer for The American Cancer Society and The American Heart Association. She delegated the task of collecting funds for these organizations to her children, thereby instilling in them the importance of good manners, giving back and helping others. We often heard the phrase “One day you will thank me.” Thank you Mom. Sundays on Fairbury Avenue always featured a wonderful meal followed by an even better dessert prepared by Marguerite and enjoyed by the Lee children, grandparents and frequently, a friend or two. Marguerite was a wonderful cook and somehow managed to keep all mouths fed. Creative and resourceful in the kitchen, Margo’s delight was the featured Friday night meal. Mouthwatering aromas often wafted from the house on Fairbury Avenue as there was almost always something cooking or baking in the oven. Marguerite’s creativity and resourcefulness was not limited to the kitchen. She was recycling and repurposing long before those were the “in” things to do. She also did an amazing job of “stretching a buck,” managing a budget and balancing a checkbook. Marguerite was affectionate, devoted, loving and thoughtful. She was a woman with many roles: daughter, sister, friend, wife, daughter-in-law, aunt, mother, godmother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She cared for her husband, Clifton throughout his illness and was at his side when he passed, just shy of turning 60 on March 16, 1985. Shortly after his death, Clifton’s mother, Ma, came to live with Marguerite. As her health declined, Marguerite cared for Ma until her death on July 18, 1986. Thomas Canning., a high school acquaintance and Queens Village resident, entered the scene. Marguerite and Tom married on November 30, 1992. Marguerite’s family circle had grown to even larger proportions as Tom’s big family became her own. There were even more children, grandchildren and eventually a few great grandchildren to love. Marguerite and Tom enjoyed 12 years together making their home in Stratford, CT where Marguerite cared for Tom until his death on November 23, 2004. A trooper at heart, Marguerite moved to the Raleigh area of North Carolina where some of her children were establishing homes. She enjoyed independence in her lovely home in Heritage Pines, Cary, NC. Summer months afforded her daily enjoyment in the community pool, yoga and dominoes at the community center. Sunday Mass was attended with children and grandchildren. At the age of 89 Marguerite chose to move to an Independent Senior Living Community in Durham, NC, Atria at Southpoint, where she played dominoes at every opportunity with friends and family, often “winning” the table. She partook in all exercise classes, rarely missed Happy Hour and was a sought-after friend at the dinner table. Marguerite is the last of her siblings to pass into eternal life; she is survived by all of her children and their spouses, grandchildren and their spouses and great grandchildren and her loving sister-in-law, Rose Amodeo Scheidecker. Her smile, beauty and accessories, not to mention her wardrobe, always garnered praise from both men and women alike. Her prayerfulness and unwavering faith in God were undeniable. Marguerite was a true blue American. She loved participating in any tributes to our veterans and our country. Marguerite was greatly admired, loved by many and even a little feared by some. When asked where she got her strength and how she managed to take care of such a large household, her answer was always “prayer and yoga,” “you just do what you have to do” and “I had to be tough to keep order in the house.” There was always order in Marguerite’s house. Somehow, the phrase “One day you will thank me” comes to mind again. Thank you Mom. There was a lot more to Marguerite than motherhood, prayer and yoga. She was an avid traveler and had the opportunity to see the world, sometimes with family members and other times with friends, especially her dear friend, Karen. She was brave and traveled to see all of her children, no matter where they were. She enjoyed the beach, swimming, taking long walks, knitting and crocheting, baking, a good book, a movie, chocolate cake and a glass or two of red wine. She was delighted by the birth of each and every grandchild and great-grandchild and so very proud of her family, making every effort to be there for as many milestone occasions as possible. She took great pride in her appearance and would never dare be caught without earrings. Marguerite was a seasoned shopper who held herself and others to a high standard. When it came to shopping, her motto was “Shop until you drop.” One time, she actually did drop! Her spirit was strong and in her later years she was sometimes frustrated by her body’s inability to keep up with her desires. In recent years, her biggest concern was the fear of becoming a burden. There is no privilege greater than that of caring for someone who has loved you unconditionally since before you were even born, someone who has dried your tears, wiped your nose, cleaned your bottom and tied your shoes over and over again. We are all so grateful for the blessing Marguerite has been to so many during her lifetime. Marguerite’s legacy is her family. She leaves behind eight children and their spouses: Lenora (Christopher Nielsen), Clifton (Bonnie), Lisabeth (Doris Lurenz), Bernadette (Robert Schroder), Gregory (Regina), Barbra (David Gallagher), Allison (Riccardo D’Ortenzio), Daniel (Penny). Her grandchildren and their spouses include: Benjamin Nielsen, Matthew (Ajay Kalladeen) Nielsen, Owen (Paige) Nielsen, Jillian and Cliffie Lee, Michael, Melanie, Peter, and Gabriel D’Ortenzio, John, Colin (Riley Anderson), Emily and Brian Gallagher, Maggie and Hannah Schroder. Her Great grandchildren include: Austin and Brycen Nielsen, Anne, Jane and Clark Nielsen, Harper and Theodore Gallagher. Her marriage to Tom Canning added four more children and spouses. Irene (Joseph Bertone), June (Joseph Bracken), Thomas (Eleanor), Donald (Lillian). Their grandchildren Joseph Bertone, Kerry (Bracken) and Michael Sambus, Timothy Bracken, Christine Bracken, Thomas (Nicole) Canning, Justin Canning, Lizzette (David) Cintron, Andrew (Lisa) Canning. Their Great grandchildren include Brinley and Bennett Sambus, Liam Canning, and Jacob, Sabrina and Eden Cintron. Aunt Marg known to many, her nieces and nephews held a special place in her heart including her God children, Susan Koch, Gary Scheidecker, Edward Koch and Patricia Dreyer. May Marguerite rest in peace. And, forever be remembered with love. In lieu of flowers, donations to Transitions LifeCare 250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh, NC 27607 or our Veterans Through the garysinisefoundation.org would be greatly appreciated.

Marguerite Lee Canning

August 4, 1925 - December 19, 2021