Marguerite Mary Novak

Marge Novak’s fulfilled, illustrious, novel and adventurous life began as Marguerite Sailer in Helena, Montana, on June 20, 1915. She grew up in Helena having lost her mother at age 4 to the Spanish flu. In 1938 she received her Nursing Degree. Marge met Joseph (Joe) Novak and they were married in 1940.  They settled for a few years in Butte, Montana and had their first child, Joan, in 1942. After having served in the Army Air Corp, Joe received his degree at Montana School of Mines; during which time they had two more children, Jean  (1946), and Stephen (1948). Their lives took a challenging and adventurous turn when Joe took a position as a mining engineer with Anaconda Copper Mining Company in northern Chile.  Their fourth child, Mary, was born in Chile a few months after they arrived in 1953.

Marge Novak died on October 18, 2021 in Seal Beach, California. She is survived by 4 children, 3 daughters Joan Gordon (Mark), Jean Cattaneo (Stephen) and Mary Novak (Ted Franklin), and a son, Stephen (Susan), 6 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.

Imagine in the early 1950s being a young mother with four young children in a foreign country whose language you did not speak. It took a very special woman to not only survive, but thrive in this new challenging environment, and Marge was a very special and courageous woman. For 18 years she provided her family with love and a positive outlook on life that kept them on a steady course.

Marge was a true renaissance woman. She was an accomplished card player; bridge being her favorite. She knitted, crocheted and sewed; making clothes for herself and her daughters. Marge was also an outstanding cook. She passed all of these attributes on to her children, all four of whom are similarly accomplished and self-reliant.

Not content to be limited to her own family, Marge also contributed greatly to her community. She taught Catechism to local children. She was a Camp Fire Girls’ leader. She won various trophies playing golf and bowling. Later, after departing Chile, Marge and Joe spent time in British Columbia (Canada), Western Australia, and the Philippines, before settling in Stockton, California, in 1978 where Marge, always giving of herself, volunteered at the Cardiac Rehab. Center at St. Joseph’s Hospital, and at the Seifert Senior Center.

Early in 1997 they moved to Leisure World.  Marge joined the knitting, travel and garden clubs.  She took courses at the Braille Institute when she became sight- impaired, never giving up on the activities she enjoyed so much, including literature and music.  She had listened to over 2900 books on tape and had noted each one in her log book.

As she got older, Marge realized that keeping fit was important. She and Joe kept in shape by swimming three times a week and walking two miles every day for close to two decades. Even after passing the age of 100, she worked out at the Leisure World gym several times each week until Covid struck.

Right up to the end, Marge loved to travel. She never passed up an invitation to go on an outing. At 100 years of age she visited the island of Kauai, went on a sailing trip, and received a standing ovation from the other passengers when the captain announced she was 100 years old! This passion and zest for life has kept her very much alive. Her positive attitude and quest to exercise has made her “the energizer bunny”; she kept “going and going and going”! Great for you Marge, Mom, Gommie, Auntie Marge, from all of us who are so close to you and love you; our steadfast, loving and true Matriarch.

Her life moto – Live It Up!

Luyben Dilday Mortuary (562) 425-6401