Passing of Marje Keough

NL Fastpitch Is Saddened To Learn That Marje Keough Passed Away On Thursday, October 19, 2023.

 

To Marje’s Family And Friends Our Condolences, Thoughts And Prayers Are With You During This Difficult Time.

 

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Marje Keough (St. John’s) enjoyed a successful playing career at the Local, Provincal and National levels.

 

Locally, Marje was a member of 7 St. John’s Senior Ladies Softball League Championship teams. She captured 5 titles as an athlete: VOCM (1968), Black Horse (1979), Labatt (1980) and Best Western Travellers (1985-1986) and 2 titles as a coach: Labatt Raiders (1993 & 1995). Marje captured 3 Pitching Awards (1970 and 1972 with Haig Stars and 1978 with Black Horse), 1 Stolen Bases Award (1972 with Haig Stars) and 1 Playoff MVP Award (1973 with Steers). In addition to onfield success, she also served on the St. John’s Senior Ladies Softball League Executive for 5 Years: Vice-President (1974), Secretary (1983) and President (1991, 1992 & 1993).

 

Provincially, Marje was a member of 1 Junior “A” Provincial Championship team (1967 with St. John’s), 1 Senior “B” Provincial Championship team (1984 with Labatt Blue) and 10 Senior “A” Provincial Championship teams – 4 consecutive with St. John’s (1971, 1972, 1973 & 1974), 4 with Black Horse (1975, 1976, 1977 & 1979), 1 with Labatt (1980) and 1 with Labatt Raiders (1993) as coach. In Senior “A” Provincial action, she won the Sportsmanship & Ability Award (1973 with St. John’s) and took home the Tournament MVP Award (1975 with Black Horse). In addition to onfield success, she also served on the Softball NL Board of Directors for 3 Years: Ladies Director (1993, 1994 & 1995) and Coaching Coordinator (1994 & 1995).

 

Nationally, Marje represented Newfoundland and Labrador at 7 Senior Women’s Canadian Fastpitch Championships: Provincial All-Stars (1971, 1972, 1975 & 1976), Black Horse (1979), Labatt (1980) and Labatt St. John’s All-Stars (1982).

 

Marje also spent time on the field as an Umpire and with Gert Delaney were the 1st Female Umpires to officiate a Provincial Senior “A” Championship.

 

Marje was Inducted into the Softball NL Hall of Fame (1989) in the Athlete Category and is also a member of the St. John’s Softball Hall of Fame.

 

Marje was also the first female Sports Reporter in NL.

 

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Marjorie Helen Keough (BPhEd) passed peacefully away at the age of 70, surrounded by loving family and closest friends on October 19, 2023 at the Miller Centre. Marje was predeceased by her parents Michael and Theresa (Cahill) Keough, her sisters Michelle Walsh and Nina Walsh, her brother Dave Cahill, and her god-daughter Mary Theresa Spurrell.

 

Leaving to mourn a large and close-knit family, her brothers Noel Keough, Paul Keough (Ella), Patrick Keough (Jessie). Her sisters, twin sister Margaret Stokes (Vaughn), Madonna Spurrell (Ed), Cassie Mullett (Paul) and special Aunt Gale Paonessa and family in Danvers, Mass. A proud aunt and great-aunt to many nieces and nephews and their families who she loved very much. Marje has a large group of close friends including her life-long and dear friends Sue Rideout, Patti Polych, Tammy White, Colleen and Sherry Morrissey, Suzanne Steele, Margie D, Marg Collingwood and so many others, too many to mention from the Canada Post and many Sports communities, you all know who you are.

 

An accomplished athlete, Marje was inducted into the Softball NL – Hall of Fame in 1989, for her contributions as a player, coach, administrator, and umpire for the more than 30 years that she gave to the sport. Marje played a variety of other sports and she was a varsity member at Memorial University for volleyball, basketball, field hockey, and badminton. In later years she loved to play golf and coach hockey (she loved her hockey girls).

 

Marje started her professional career as a Court Reporter in St. John’s with The Daily News, she was also the first female sports reporter in NL. Marje retired from Canada Post in 2013 as a Local Area Superintendent, with 35 years of service.

 

The family would like to thank Dr. A. Mehta, her Cancer Care and Palliative Care teams for taking such amazing care of her.

 

Respecting Marje’s wishes, cremation has taken place, there will be no visitation or funeral service. Private burial to take place with family and a few close friends.

 

There will be a Celebration of Life taking place at the Elk’s Club at 19 Carpasian Road on Thursday, October 26 from 2-6pm. Anyone who would like to join the family to celebrate her life, share a story or memory of Marje, we would love for you to come.

 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Marje’s memory to Kids Sport of Canada – NL Branch, St. John’s SPCA, or a charity of one’s choice.