MARILYN ELIZABETH MARGARET DUNHAM

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MARILYN ELIZABETH MARGARET DUNHAM With great sadness, we announce the peaceful passing of Marilyn Dunham (nee Smirl) on Thursday, June 1, 2006, surrounded by her loving family at home after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Marilyn was born June 8, 1942 in Oakville, MB to Hugh and Anna Smirl and to join her older brother Bruce. Her younger sister Carol Ann, was born a few years later. After their father died the family moved to the Helston area, near Gladstone, MB to live on the farm of their Uncle George, Aunt Emily and cousin Jack. Marilyn graduated with honors from Carberry Collegiate in 1959 and from Brandon College with a B.A. degree in 1962. She worked for The Children's Aid Society of Portage la Prairie for a year, then moved to Winnipeg to complete two degrees in Social Work at the University of Manitoba. After completing her M.S.W., Marilyn was employed by The Children's Aid Society of Winnipeg for several years. On August 24, 1974 Marilyn married a very fortunate man, Charles (Chuck) Dunham who had immigrated to Manitoba from Michigan in 1971. Their two children, Karen born on February 8, 1978 and Scott, born on April 17, 1980 meant the world to Marilyn. The family lived in Fort Garry area of Winnipeg until 1993 when they moved to a hobby farm near Anola, MB. For the last 20 years of her working career, Marilyn worked as a library clerk in many schools of the Winnipeg School Division No. 1. During her life, Marilyn enjoyed making crafts, reading, traveling, gardening, animals and telling very creative stories to many children. Her travels included trips to Europe, Africa, the United States, Hawaii and Canada. Marilyn will be sadly missed by her husband Chuck and their children Scott, Karen and son-in-law Jaimz Asmundson, and by her brother Bruce and sister-in-law Annamarie Smirl of Morden, MB and their daughters, Lisa, Jenny and Ellen, her sister Carol Ann Coish, brother-in-law Robert and their children, Rebecca and Thomas. She will also be missed by her cousins, Jack Bruce of Portage la Prairie and Bob Bruce and wife Ann and her Aunt Bertha Bruce of Chemainus, BC. Marilyn was a beautiful, brilliant, loving wife and mother of grace and strength. Concern for others was central to her nature. All her family and friends loved her dearly. The memorial service is to be held Monday, June 19 at the Fort Garry United Church in Winnipeg at 10:00 a.m. Cremation and arrangements are being completed by Sobering Funeral Chapel of Beausejour, MB. Interment will be a private family ceremony at Oakville Cemetery at a later date. Donations in Marilyn's memory may be made either to the Anola United Church, P.O. Box 147, Anola, MB R0E 0A0 or to the Winnipeg Humane Society, 5 Kent Rd., Winnipeg MB R2L 9Z9. The family wishes to extend special thanks to Dr. Curtis Krahn and the staff of Steinbach Bethesda Hospital and to North Eastman Health Association Inc. Home Care Services for the excellent, gentle care given to Marilyn during the course of her illness.

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As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jun 10, 2006