MARION HANSEN

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MARION HANSEN Marion passed away peacefully Sunday afternoon, March 22, 2009 at the Grace Hospice. Mom was born to Ruth (Andrews) and Wilf Lewis November 28, 1936 in Winnipeg where she spent her early years before moving with her family to Seven Sisters Falls where her father was a civil engineer responsible for work on the generating station there. She later returned to Winnipeg to attend high school, to work and eventually raise her family. Marion will be remembered with love by her daughters, Linda Levit and Ingrid Hansen and their husbands, Keith Levit and Blair Chamberlain; her five grandchildren, Griffin, Vanessa, Natasha, Hannah and Marina; her sister Doreen McPherson; brother Jim and Susan Lewis; brother in-law Harley and Myrna Hansen who was both her sister-in-law and also a devoted friend for over 50 years; sister-in-law Marnie and Bill Karlberg, Marnie was another close and important friend whose years of nursing were a help to Marion in her last months; and many loving and devoted nieces, nephews and friends. Gail Willox, her childhood friend and soul sister was there through every passage of her life. The two of them always jived together and their love for each other shone brightly on the rest of us. Gail's mother and father, Nana and Poppy Baker, took mom into their home when she attended high school in Winnipeg and were always an integral part of our family life. But the centre of her life and her enduring love was always Bill. They met on a double date with Gail. Mom said she only lied about her age once, on their first date when she was 15 and she said she was 16! Dad soon found out, but by then he was hooked. They married in 1956. Dad then went back to University for his engineering degree while Mom supported them. In 1960 they started their family and she proved to a devoted and wonderful mother. A long-time resident of the Riverview area, Mom and her friends were found many summer mornings on the tennis court and in winters in a church basement playing badminton. Many happy years were spent at the cottage at Clearwater Bay on Lake of the Woods where Mom and Dad enjoyed hosting all of their friends. Bill would lead the singsongs on guitar and Marion was right at his side harmonizing. When her daughters were older, Marion learned sign language and volunteered at the School for the Deaf. Later she worked for over ten years in Winnipeg One School Division as an aid to special needs children where she formed many lasting friendships with the families of those children. In 2001 Mom suffered a brain aneurysm and Dad's devotion to her must have been the inspiration for her to work so hard to recover. Her quiet way and strength dealing with the loss of speech and independence showed us how to live and appreciate our lives, our families and the people around us. Mom lost Dad in 2006 but now they are together again and she is at peace. The family would like to thank the staff at the Palliative Care unit at Riverview Health Centre and as well, the wonderful, loving professionals and volunteers at Grace Hospice, which was a peaceful oasis for the last month of her life. The funeral service will be held Thursday, March 26, 2:00 p.m. at Thomson in the Park, 1291 McGillivray Boulevard. We welcome you to celebrate the memory of Marion by making a donation to the Grace Hospice, 260 Booth Dr., Winnipeg, MB R3J 0A1 or a charity of your choice. THOMSON IN THE PARK 925-1120 Send expressions of sympathy to www.mem.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 25, 2009