Nurtchia Silencio, aka Margie Morrison: She ‘Lived a Life of Service’

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Margie Morrison Nurtchia Silencio
In Memoriam

1/4/33 – 5/15/19
Nurtchia Silencio, aka Margie Morrison passed quietly in comfort Wednesday night.

Nurtchia lived a life of service. Some remember her as an activist. She created the Soup Group in the 80s to help feed and find shelter for the disadvantaged. Many knew her just from being an active neighbor around town with her son Sam. Some knew her for her beautiful voice and love of music.

All who knew her, felt her love and compassion.

I knew her as Margie. When I met her in 2017, she was well into dementia and non-verbal except for a few utterances. We used to walk together and look at magazines, until she became too unstable. What I came to love about her, was her capacity for joy. The times when she was lucid and present, her smile and laugh was so pure and uplifting that it would brighten the darkest mood. I often sat with her playing some silly game with rhythm and clapping or just humming.

She also loved to be among people who were socializing. She followed the conversation with her eyes and would laugh along with the others.

When I was able to join her for the live music in the Dimmick room, she was very present and loved to keep time on her lap. I know that she had a lot slip away from her in her final years, but I feel she was happy and knew she was loved.

I was blessed to have known her, even in this limited capacity. She taught me to adjust my time and tempo to each individual, and how to look for clues that reveal their “inner life”. She taught me that no matter how limited a person’s ability to interact, they are there, and have life to offer us. She showed me that love is a light that shines from within, and that she was full of love. I will miss her greatly but feel blessed for my time knowing her. Even deep into dementia, she was a teacher right up to the end.

Joe Rial
Activity Director
Jerold Phelps Community Hospital

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Willie Caso-Mayhem
Guest
4 years ago

🕯🕯Margie🕊🕊👏

Ernie Branscomb
Guest
4 years ago

Thank for the nice comments Joe. Nurtchia was definitely a mover and a shaker in her day. I didn’t know about her love of music. Music seems to be a part of everyone’s soul.

DawnI
Guest
DawnI
4 years ago

Joe, that was beautifully written.
I cannot think of Silencio without the memories of her son Sam surfacing also.
Fly free Margie.
I agree Ernie, she was quite a mover and shaker.
we were lucky she came to live in our community.

Dave Kirby
Guest
Dave Kirby
4 years ago

Her dedication to Sam’s welfare was truly impressive. A mothers love and courage. A sweet soul.

Mary Ella Anderson
Guest
Mary Ella Anderson
4 years ago

She was a very sweet soul, as was Sam. She was also an environmentalist and as far as I know the founder of Friends of the Eel. I learned a lot from her.

Erato
Guest
Erato
4 years ago

Is Sam also gone?

Ben Round
Guest
Ben Round
4 years ago

I honor Nurtchia as a person who showed up and walked her talk.
Nurtchia distinguished herself from others by being creative in her concepts and resolute in her actions, with a peaceful and middle-path presence of joy. She was fully engaged and everywhere in So Hum (including on KMUD) in the 1980’s. (It likely helped that she lived in the ‘Bebee Building’ in the center of Garberville). All the while she provided an environment of love and comfort for her son, Sam. (I recall Sam passed long ago. Is that correct?).

Robie Tenorio
Guest
Robie Tenorio
4 years ago

RIP Nurtchia.
and Thank you for the laughs.
Nurtchia had a great sense of humor. She was hilarious at times and very witty.

Kato
Guest
Kato
4 years ago

I’m glad you got to know her (and care for her), Joe! Nurtchia and Sam were regulars when I worked at Chautauqua in the early 90’s. He was always ready with a hug, and she never failed to have a bit of wit, wisdom or whimsy to share. I believe I heard she had been a teacher as a young woman (?). She definitely spread light and love wherever she went. Blessings on your journey, Nurtchia, and give Sam a hug for us all!

A Founding Board Member from FOER
Guest
A Founding Board Member from FOER
4 years ago

Nurtchia was a kind woman and a loving mother.

just fyi: it wasn’t Nurtchia, it was Nadananda who was the founder of the Friends of the Eel.