Marjorie Stetson is not just our beloved resident, she's a key figure in history - a retired sergeant from the Canadian Armed Forces during World War II. She is the definition of a woman of valor, and we are incredibly proud and fortunate to have her here with us at Brightview Concord River! Her fascinating story is one filled with courage, commitment, and a secret she kept for 75 years!
At just 18 years old, Marjorie enlisted in the Canadian Women's Army Corps (CWAC) and was stationed at a remote wireless communications facility in Victoria, British Columbia.
Marjorie was part of a transatlantic intelligence network that played a direct role in the events of the war, intercepting and transcribing encrypted Japanese military communications. These messages were then forwarded to code breakers in the U.S. and occasionally England, providing the Allies with valuable intelligence. For 75 years, Marjorie carried the weight of this secret service, never disclosing it to anyone.
After the war, Marjorie moved to Concord, a town she fondly remembers having a population of just 7,000. Over the years, she has been an active member of our community, working and volunteering for various town boards and organizations, as well as the Trinity Episcopal Church.
Marjorie recalls her time during the war with a sense of camaraderie and pride. "Most of the radio operators were women and we often spent time together after work," she remembers. Despite the gravity of their work, the women in her unit remained close friends, even holding reunions years after their service ended.
Marjorie's story came back to life with the publication of the book "Code Girls: The Untold Story of the American Women Code Breakers of World War II" by Liza Mundy. The book rekindled her memories of a time when her role was a closely guarded secret.
To learn more about Marjorie's incredible story, read the Canadian Broadcasting Company's profile.
Brightview Senior Living builds, owns, and operates award-winning vibrant senior living communities in eight states along the East Coast: Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Virginia. We offer senior Independent Living, Assisted Living, Enhanced Care, and Wellspring Village™, a specialized neighborhood for people living with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. Schedule a personal visit to experience our communities firsthand.
