With indescribable sadness we announce the passing of our beloved mother, devoted wife, doting grandmother, loving sister, aunt and friend to many, Marianne Elizabeth MacMillan, known fondly as Marnie or Marion, with her family and friends by her side after a courageous battle fighting many health challenges. It brings us peace knowing that she is now again with her husband, our father Jack.
Marnie was born on October 15th, 1948 in North Bay, Ontario to George and Olga Stewart. She was their baby girl, younger sister to Gillian and Peter. When she was 10 years old, her family moved to Fort William, where she grew up on Norah Street attending Isabella and Kingsway Public School. It was in this neighbourhood where she met her lifelong friends, “The Blob”: Roberta Hannah, Tracey Marks, and Bonnie Satten. Many fun and carefree days were spent climbing trees in Vickers Park, biking, dolls, library and museum visits, swimming lessons at the Y, Brownies and Guides and youth activities at St. Paul’s Anglican Church. Following this she and The Blob created wonderful memories of their teen years at FWCI – curling in the winter, summer evening walks up and down Victoria Avenue, the 4D coffee house, and Gardens dances. A lot of time was spent laughing. Marnie was a good friend.
After graduating high school, she attended LU and then studied to become an X-ray technician, and later an ultrasound technician. She worked at many different clinics and hospitals in and out of town. She loved her job and her colleagues that became her friends, but happily retired in June 2014 to devote her time and love to her family and friends.
Jack and Marnie were married June 2, 1973 spending over 40 years together. Together they raised three wonderful children, Joanna, Janet and Malcolm.
Our mom was an active member in the community. She was a parent volunteer at school, Sunday School teacher, Brownie and Guide Leader, and District Commissioner. Heavily involved in all of our different sports organizations, she could be counted on to work Bingos, run tournaments, and help wherever needed- often driving the neighbourhood kids and hockey friends around. Our mom was an avid reader, book worm if you will; known to stay up until the wee hours of the morning to finish a book. She enjoyed her book club with her friends in retirement. She was a crafty woman, taught to knit at the age of five by her grandmother. Many are lucky enough to have a sweater, scarf, mitts, shawl or dishcloth made by her. Later on, she took up quilting with her sister Gill and enjoyed attending “quilting group.”
What our mom was best known for, was her ability to talk to anyone, anywhere! She was always so positive and upbeat and you could count on her to listen with an open heart. Our mom was kind, compassionate and considerate and had a compliment for anyone. She liked to see the best in everyone. Mom was a patient teacher in many different ways to people. She really was our rock and there will be a huge void in our lives.
In 2008 our mom became a grandma for the first time and then six more grandchildren followed after. She loved spending time with them, staying up late and having sleepovers, and treating them to books of course! She even taught her oldest granddaughter Sofia how to knit.
We would really like to acknowledge our mom’s dear friends “The Blob” who never left her side and walked this last path with her onto to the next journey. Their unwavering love, support and strength carried and lifted us through the difficult and beautiful times. Thank you.
Marnie will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her children; Joanna (Paulo) Martins, Janet, Malcolm (Laura) MacMillan. She deeply loved her grandchildren; Sofia, Callum, Isabella, Lua, Selah, Cameron and Ethan. She is also survived by her big brother Peter (Shelly) Stewart, her brother in laws David and Randy and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and great nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by the love of her life, Jack MacMillan, her parents and her in-laws Malcolm and Louise MacMillan, her sister Gill, and sister-in-law Mary-Lou.
We would like to acknowledge and thank the doctors and nurses at St. Joes and Thunder Bay Regional, in particular Dr. Rumbolt, Dr. Miller and Dr. Sellick.
Funeral Services for Marnie will be held in the chapel of Harbourview Funeral Centre on Tuesday, May 31, 2022 presided by Fr. Jerin Louis at 11:00 a.m. Visitation for family and friends will begin one hour prior to the service.
For those unable to attend in person, the service will be streamed live and archived at www.harbourviewfuneral.ca
In lieu of flowers, Marnie would have appreciated donations to the Shelter House, Dew Drop In, and any other local charities that support our vulnerable community members.
