Marguerite Langlois enjoyed time in her garden.
A Lifelong Learner and Teacher
Marguerite was born to teach. Her love of learning was expansive, curious, and enduring. It led her into classrooms across the country.
At the Greenwood Senior Center (GSC), Marguerite championed continuing education. She was a trusted collaborator for Program Manager Ariel Burnett, co-creating countless programs together. Her offerings were as diverse as they were memorable: Program Management for Your Life, The Future of Aging, and Sun Prints — a workshop on an early photographic process invented by a woman. She had a special focus on uplifting seniors and women, and she wasn’t afraid to push boundaries. Marguerite often advocated for topics not often seen at senior centers — such as a session with a sex therapist and a field trip to a marijuana dispensary.
“She pushed me and inspired me to provide more intellectual programming geared toward continual education, as opposed to just the standard knitting and other senior center staples,” Ariel recalls.
A Pillar in the PNA Village
Marguerite was a founding force in the Greenwood Senior Center and the PNA Village, becoming a trusted neighbor, volunteer, and teacher in the truest sense. The PNA community became the chosen family she nurtured, guided, and delighted in.
Known for her charisma, charm, and unmistakable feistiness, Marguerite had a gift for walking into any room and commanding it with warmth and clarity. She could tame a rowdy group with nothing but a no-nonsense smile and a practical agenda. Her small stature belied a powerful presence – one that made everyone feel seen, encouraged, and invited to contribute.
Even in her final months, Marguerite remained a model of willpower and grace, determined to live on her own terms and contribute in every way she could.
The PNA became the chosen family Marguerite nurtured, guided, and delighted in.
Marguerite was a prolific artist, her work was recently available for auction at the Greenwood Senior Center to celebrate her life and give back to her beloved community.
A Legacy That Lives On
Marguerite believed in the importance of community, lifelong learning, and meaningful connection. Upon her passing in 2023, she left a generous legacy gift to the PNA, ensuring that her impact will continue to shape the future of the Greenwood Senior Center and PNA Village — the programs she poured herself into, the people she loved, and the community she helped grow.
Her legacy lives on not only in the financial contributions she left and the programming she helped shape, but also in her art. Marguerite left behind a prolific body of work, now cared for by her niece and namesake. This past spring, an art show at the GSC celebrated her creativity, shared her memory, and raised funds for the PNA.
Her legacy reminds us that connection is a choice. It is made possible by people like Marguerite who show up, share wisdom, and create spaces where everyone belongs.
“This is the community she built for herself – she was very thankful and gave what she could,” shared Terry Cook, Margeurite’s dear friend.
Marguerite is deeply missed and fondly remembered by neighbors, friends, family, and a whole community that is better because she was here.
Marguerite showed us that connection is a choice — one that shapes community for generations. At the PNA, her influence lives on in the Greenwood Senior Center, the Village, and in every neighbor welcomed. We invite you to help carry her vision forward by supporting this work today.
Our Goal: $100,000 Help us get there!
The Power of Community: Legacy Makers fundraiser supports the full breadth of PNA’s work – from the Greenwood Senior Center, Memory Loss, and Village programs to community meals and community spaces like the Phinney Center Campus and beyond. Your generosity helps us continue creating welcoming places and meaningful programs for all neighbors at every life stage.
