Marita Winnifred Shupe

Marita Winnifred Shupe (née Marshall), 80, of Halifax, NS passed away peacefully at Parkstone Enhanced Care Home on December 14, 2019 after a brave battle with Parkinson’s Disease. She is predeceased by her husband Keith; brothers Ted and Larry; and parents Allison and Eva. She is survived by her sons and their wives, Mark (Lana); Gary (Rochelle); Scott (Mae); and Darren; her daughters and their husbands, Linda Sanford (Craig); and Ann Miller (Jason). Loved and missed by grandchildren, Kent, Ryan, Kara, Amy, Marshall, Emma, Catalina, Jeff, and Logan. She is remembered by sisters Juene Snook and Elaine Prall.

Marita was born on January 2, 1939 in Spa Springs, Nova Scotia, where she grew up on a farm. She attended Spa Springs Public School and graduated from Middleton Regional High School in 1956. After working for Canadian Canners as a cost accountant for two seasons, she spent three months in Montreal taking a comptometer course. In 1958, she moved to Halifax and joined the staff of W.H. Schwartz & Sons as payroll clerk and assistant accountant. She met the love of her life, Keith, at a YMCA dance in 1958. They were married at St. Paul’s Church, Halifax, on August 6, 1960.

A loving mother, grandmother, and homemaker, Marita’s hobbies included cross stitch, genealogy, and reading. Marita was a big lover of music, and enjoyed country music and barbershop singing. She sang with the Citadel Chimes Barbershop Chorus and in later years joined the ScotianAires Barbershop Chorus. She attended St. James Anglican Church for over 40 years, and was actively involved in Mothers’ Union. Marita supported the Terry Fox Run, and volunteered as a Brownie leader, Home Room Mother, and school fair organizer. She was a dedicated baseball fan and never missed a Montreal Expos or Toronto Blue Jays game.

Marita always had a song in her heart, a kind word for others, and took pride in her family.

A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, December 18 at 10 a.m. at St. James Anglican Church, Armdale Halifax, Rev. Katie Taylor-Flynn presiding. Burial to follow at St. John’s Cemetery, Halifax. Reception following at Chocolate Lake Community Centre,1014 Purcells Cove Road, Halifax, in the Multipurpose Room. A special thanks to the staff at Parkstone Enhanced Care Home for their loving care and support. In lieu of flowers, donations to Parkinson Canada can be made in Marita’s memory.