Nadine Janice Marshall (nee: Keitlah), 48, was an Ahousaht woman living in Victoria, B.C. until her death in the summer of 2012.
Nadine was born to Nelson and Ida Keitlah and one of her favorite stories, according to youngest sister Margaret Dick, comes from the night Nadine was born.
Nelson and Ida lived in Ahousaht during the 1960’s and the closest hospital was a two-hour boat trip away. Back then, travel was done by slower moving fishing boats.
When Ida went into labour, the Keitlahs boarded a fishing boat for the two-hour trip to Tofino General Hospital. Nadine, however, could not wait and made her grand entrance aboard the boat about halfway to Tofino.
“I always remember both her and mom telling me how she was born on a fishing boat as they were passing Catface – right at midnight so she always told me that she was special and had two birthdays,” said Dick.
The Keitlah family eventually moved from Ahousaht to Port Alberni where the kids grew up and started their own families.
Nadine married and started a family of her own. She faced heartbreak early on with the loss of her infant son Calvin and her toddler daughter Holly. But her sister said she was a beautiful woman who loved her family deeply and only wanted good for everyone.
“Our sister Nadine was a lot like mom,” said Dick. “She had a huge heart of gold; she always took care of others and worked hard for her children,” she continued.
Nadine was also described as generous. “If someone needed help she would give her last dollar or make room on her couch and make them feel comfortable; she made lots of sacrifices for her family and always made do with what she had,” Dick added.
Nadine’s life came to an end in August 2012; and just like her ambiguous birthdate, the date of her death is uncertain. All that is known is she was found at 3:30 a.m., Aug. 3, behind the Archie Browning Sports Complex in Esquimalt, B.C.
Her death was ruled suspicious and investigators asked people who may have seen Marshall on Aug. 2 or Aug. 3 to come forward. Four years later, the family continues to wait for news from the police department.
Marshall is survived by four of her children, a brother and five sisters, and her father Nelson Keitlah Sr.
“It’s a blessing that our sister is being remembered; she deserves to remembered in a beautiful light,” said Dick adding, “She was a beautiful woman who loved her family deeply and only wanted good for everyone.”
“She was a positive role model in my life. This is how I most remember our sister. She was my protector,” she added.
Despite several requests for information about this case, the Victoria Police Department spokesperson, Constable Matthew Rutherford, who is attempting to get an update from the investigator, has no information to share with Ha-Shilth-Sa.
Rutherford’s last email to us March 8 states “I still have not heard back Denise. When I do I will let you know.”
