ELINOR MARCINE JAMES

Sadly, the family announces the passing of Elinor Marcine James, 91, of Emo, Ont., on Tuesday, June 11, 2103 at the Emo Health Centre.
Marcine was born Elinor Marcine Hefner on Feb. 1 1922 in Lafayette, Ohio. She was the oldest of five children of Robert and (Rowena) Ilo Hefner.
Marcine spent most of her young life in Oxford, Ohio. She graduated from McGuffey School in 1940, then from Miami University in 1943 with a degree in biology and chemistry.
She wrote and passed the pre-med exams, but her father thought it would be a waste of money for a woman to attend med school.
In May, 1943, Marcine joined the Women’s Army Corp Reserves and while there was recruited to the Physical Therapy unit and was sent to Madison, Wis. for intensive training.
After a physical therapy internship at Billings, Ind., she became qualified in August, 1944. She was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant.
In March, 1945, she went overseas during WWII, where she worked in the 28th General Hospital in Manila. There, she met John James when he was released from prison camp at the end of the war.
She returned home in December, 1945 for three weeks, then took the train to Winnipeg, Man. and was married to John James on Feb. 16, 1946.
In December, 1950, they left Winnipeg and moved to their present home in Emo.
During the polio outbreak of the 1950s, Marcine spent many hours giving physiotherapy to the victims who were affected, taking her four children along with her. We are not sure she was paid for this service because she did not have a licence to practice in Canada at that time.
On the encouragement of Dr. John O’Sullivan, she took courses in Manitoba and spent time in Thunder Bay, Ont., and became licensed in Ontario in 1972 at the age of 50.
She worked at the Emo Hospital and Rainycrest, as well as holding a licence to work on her own in people’s homes until the age of 72.
Marcine always has been very community-minded and advocated for the mentally-challenged, helping establish an education system for them in Rainy River District.
She taught 4-H and was involved with the Hospital Auxiliary, the Women’s Institute, Emo Legion, Emo Fair Board, Master Gardeners, rug-hooking, and anything that had to do with improving the environment.
She continued to be involved in the community until she fell and broke her hip, and had been in long-term care since.
She loved puzzles, card games, and especially Scrabble. She also was an avid bird-watcher, and could identify most birds by song and flight.
Marcine will be lovingly remembered by her children, Carol (Mark) Hyatt of Barwick, Ont., Judy (Bob) Currie of Brooklyn, N.S., Bill (Kathy) of Fort Frances, Ont., and Bruce (Elaine) of Atikokan, Ont.; 13 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.
She also is survived by her siblings, Caroline Veith and Robert (Lee) Hefner, all of Ohio; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Marcine was predeceased by her husband, John Edward (Jimmy); infant son, James Elmer; infant grandson, Ian Michael James; her parents, Robert and (Rowena) Ilo Hefner; and her brothers, Willis and John Hefner.
Funeral services were held Friday, June 14, 2013 at 11 a.m. at the Northridge Funeral Home in Emo, with Rev. Diane Clifford officiating.
Interment took place in the Emo Cemetery.
The pallbearers were Mark Hyatt, Brendan Hyatt, Darren Hyatt, John Samson, Brad Sampson, Dan James, Stephen James, and Brian James.
If desired, in memoriam donations may be made to the War Amps, the Emo Health Centre, or the charity of your choice c/o Northridge Funeral Home, P.O. Box 89, Emo, Ont., P0W 1E0.
Online condolences may be offered at www.northridgefuneralhome.com