Passed away peacefully at the age of 88 June 18, 2023 in Barrie, Ontario, after a 15-year journey with Parkinson’s. Predeceased by her loving husband of 43 years William (Bill) Thomson (August 11, 1999), infant son Bruce (February 9, 1959) and sister Peggy (March 14, 2014); mother of Keith, Glen (Freda), Sharon (Don), Carol (Irv), Debbie (Domenic) and Craig; aunt to Francesca (Fred) and Jimmy (Susan); grandmother to Stephen, Christopher, Robyn, Kelly, Louise, David (Katarina), Jonathan, Matthew, Susan, Bruce (Elbia) and Luke (Meagan); great-grandmother to Adaline, Olivia, Kyle, Nick, Dustin, Kenzie and Ava; and great-great-grandmother to Michael, Emma, Daniel and Nora (predeceased). She is also survived by lifelong friends Pierrette Lampron, Toni MacDonald, Stan and Barb Surette, Dot Everett, Pinky Ellis, Joan McLeod, Linda Mchoul and Maggie Murray. Her sweet and generous spirit will be sadly missed by all.
Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba on June 11, 1935, Marion moved to Quebec, City at the age of three with her parents and sister, where she was raised living near the old city. Upon graduating high school, she joined the Alymer, Quebec reserve recruiting unit. It was in Quebec City where she met Bill. They married April 14, 1956 at St. Matthews Church. They lived the life of a military family for 30+ years, moving their growing family to Bagotville, Quebec, Zweibrucken, Germany, St. Jean, Quebec and finally to Borden, Ontario, where they ultimately settled and retired in Angus, Ontario. Marion’s French and German language skills helped her to quickly adapt to each new location. She loved to travel. Bill and Marion often packed up the kids and hit the road for a day trip, a weeks’ long camping trip to nearby European countries, or a cross Canada adventure to visit military friends in Atlantic Canada and out to the prairies to explore their Western roots in Regina and Winnipeg & Brandon. After they retired Bill and Marion continued to travel from coast to coast across Canada, back to Europe and to the Bahamas and Hawaii.
In addition to raising six children with Bill, Marion taught kindergarten in St. Jean, as well as French in Borden at the high school Base Borden Collegiate Institute (BBCI). She then joined lead the library team at the Canadian Forces Medical Services School (CFMSS) in Borden for 20+ years. She was never comfortable driving, opting to get around on two wheels or her own feet. She kept in great shape her whole life walking and cycling everywhere. In the early years, rain or shine, she would load up her three girls (Debbie in the front basket, Carol on the back carrier and Sharon on the seat), then peddle (standing up) several kilometres to drop the girls off at the babysitter’s and then at school.
Marion would do anything for her children. Even after a full day at work, she would help their kids with their homework (she loved math!), and long after everyone was in bed, she stayed up late sewing clothes. With money tight for years, she recycled used clothing into something new for herself and the kids. There was always a stash of material, zippers, thread, wool, fabric and buttons (and more buttons!) on hand to create something new. Her real passion was knitting. She could knit literally anything and everything (and even knit in the dark) …. hats, mitts, socks, blankets and sweaters (so many beautiful sweaters). Their girls were the best dressed figure skaters on the ice, with matching dresses, sweaters and mitts. She especially enjoyed sharing her creative talents with the three girls and later with the grandchildren. Many afternoons were spent baking and making crafts. Both she and Bill loved to spend time with the grandchildren: taking them on outings, helping with homework and hosting them for sleepovers. And somehow Marion found the time to support the kids’ and grandkids’ activities in baseball,
hockey, figure skating, boy scouts and girl guides. Marion loved to garden, enjoyed music and would occasionally spend time at the casino playing the penny slots ‘fish game’.
The family would like to thank the staff at the Roberta Place and Waterford Retirement Residences, and the IOOF Long Term Care facility, all in Barrie, Ontario. Your care and compassion for Marion were so very appreciated. And a special thank you to Bonnie Schmitz and Sandy Schneider for accompanying Marion to her medical appointments over the past few years.
In lieu of flowers donations in Marion’s name can be made to Parkinson Canada.
Family and friends are invited to a celebration of Marion’s life on June 23, 2023,
at the Steven R. Bridge Funeral Home, 207 Mill Street, Angus, ON.
Visitation will be from 1 pm- 2pm, with service to follow at 2 pm.