Marge Debodt, 73

Meet Marge Debodt, 73 years young.

At 73, Marge’s life has been shaped by love, resilience, and an unbreakable spirit. Growing up in Summerside, PEI, she shared a bedroom, and a lifelong bond, with her younger sister, Claire. Always patient and kind, Marge was the steady anchor in a family of five.

She went on to graduate from St. FX and built a meaningful career, eventually leading Nova Scotia’s Restorative Justice Program. But her proudest role was as a single mom to three daughters, raising them with strength, compassion, and joy.

In later years, Marge found love again and married Barry. But in 2020, her world shifted dramatically. Diagnosed with a brain tumor at the height of the pandemic, she was moved to hospice where doctors didn’t expect her to survive. But Marge did what she’s always done, she fought. With Barry by her side, she defied the odds. And when her speech began to fade, music became their shared language…singing together became their way of staying connected.

A fall in 2024 left her with a broken femur and landed her back in hospital for months, followed by rehabilitation. While she is safe and supported in her care facility, the days can feel long and lonely. At 73, Marge is decades younger than most residents, and with her speech affected, conversation can be difficult. Her once-vibrant social world has grown quiet.

Still, music has never left her. It remains her refuge, through singing with fellow residents and weekly therapy sessions that lift her spirits. But she sought something more, a break from routine, a chance to feel truly alive again.

All Marge wanted was to go to a concert, any concert. After years of hospitals, rehab, and isolation, she longed for the joy of live music and the feeling of being part of something again.

On March 20th, Marge’s wish came true and she was able to attend the perfect show: a Neil Diamond tribute at the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium. It was her first “date night” in years. Barry by her side. The music. The lights. The atmosphere. It wasn’t just a concert, it was freedom. It was joy. It was everything she had been missing.

Since that night, Marge has transitioned to a new care home, where her days are once again filled with music. Grounded in the beautiful memory of a night that reminded her she’s not just surviving, she’s still living.

Special Thanks: VaughnCo Entertainment, Pam Pardy Promotions, and the Rebecca Cohen Theatre for helping bring Marge's wish to life!