MARINA JOSEPHINE RUTH ANN (MOORE) WELHAM

November 29th, 1934 - August 30th, 2016

Marina's name:  Marina was the youngest of three children, born about 12 twelve years after her two brothers, John and Bill, and a big surprise to her parents.  Marina's mother, Caroline Wright (of England) and her father, John Francis (Jack) Moore of Ireland, both then long-time subjects of the Crown in Canada, expressed they joy in their new daughter, and their patriotism, when they christened her after the up-and-coming Duchess of Kent: Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark who married Prince George, Duke of Kent, fourth son of King George V of the United Kingdom on November 29th, 1934, the day my mother was born.  The autographed photo above of Princess Marina of Greece in her wedding gown, is signed and dated on her wedding day, my mother's birthday: November 29th, 1934.

Both my mother and I were born on Thursdays, which Marina's mother, my grandmother, Caroline, assured us was very good, because Thursdays were always “bargain days” at Morgan's in downtown Montreal, her favorite place to shop.  In other words, when Caroline brought Marina home, and when Marina brought me home, we were both "good bargains".  Morgan's, across from Phillips Square in downtown Montreal was later renamed “The Bay”.

Morgan's of Montreal

8591 Lochside Drive, Sidney, North Saanich, British Columbia

Marina Welham was for decades an expert in cacti and succulents, and had her own small glass greenhouse at home.  She was the founder, editor and a prolific author of The Amateurs Digest, a membership site for people around the world who shared her love of these amazing plants, found in almost every environment.  That's a photo of our family home, above, empty, glass greenhouse to the right where Marina raised some of the plants that she wrote about.

FUN QUOTATIONS FROM THE LATE MARINA WELHAM, as remembered by her daughter, in the passenger's seat:

Marina, on hearing about feminism:  “I wouldn't lower myself to be equal to a man.”

Marina, on seeing a police car in the rear-view mirror while speeding down a highway:  “Quick, hand me my lipstick!”

Marina, swerving to avoid hitting a fat man crossing on red:  “Whew!  That would’a been a mess!”

Love you, Mum.  Miss you always.   Kathleen.

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