Contributions to the tribute of Marie Gibson

C

Wednesday, July 9, 2025

Marie was my Grandfather's baby sister. They grew up in the country's hardest financial times. My grandfather remembered their sister, Dorothy being held by the woodstove, gasping for each breath as pneumonia consumed her. My grandfather named his first born daughter in honour of his sister that died in her third year in a cold winter. The family moved from Ontario to Saskatchewan to try and find more work but that did not happen. The family returned to Ontario to try their best to scratch out a life on a farm. My Grandfather, like his brothers, were sent out to work, not by choice but necessity at 12 years old. My Grandfather had a hearing disability, partly maybe genetic and partly from working at times in assorted factories. My Grandfather was not social from his hearing issue so I never met my great Auntie Marie until I invited her- she always kept in touch with that firstborn niece with her sister's name- to come to my Mom's surprise birthday party. "If you invite me, I will come" she said was her policy and she happily came to see us in her late 80's, a bunch of relatives who were really strangers. Aunt Marie was a perfect guest, full of compliments and kindness and we just loved her. She did not have a privileged childhood nor was her adult life not with its intensely sad times but she saw life as a gift she was grateful for. If we all lived life like Marie Gibson did, our world would be beautiful.

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Mary Kate Fair posted a condolence

Sunday, June 8, 2025

How lucky are we all to have known Grandma. I will be saying Grandma as that is what she was to me, but she was so much more: a mum, an aunt, a great aunt, a neighbour, a friend and more. But regardless of what she was to everyone here, she had the most thoughtful way of making everyone feel loved, accepted and cared for. I have never met anyone more capable of creating and maintaining friendships. Even in her 90s to be sending emails across the country and making new friends. I think that speaks to the kind of person Grandma was, and in many ways to the kind of person we all needed. And while I am sad that she is gone, I am at peace that she is reunited with loved ones she had to say goodbye to so that we got more time with her. A couple of years ago she told me that she wasn't afraid to die because she knew when she got there,my grandpa, Cec, would ask what took her so damn long, which if you knew my grandpa, sounds about right. Despite not being physically here Grandma loves on with us in many ways. In several of her granddaughters and great granddaughters she is remembered through a middle name. I will also remember some of the little things. She liked green jellybeans best. She and grandpa taught my brother and I to play euchre and we'd play during sleepovers on March break. The Kelly's would come over to play after we went to sleep and they'd all get loud and we'd here Grandma tell everyone to be quiet as the kids were sleeping. She made the best smelling roast beef the best fudge always kept in the becel containers and her cooked strawberries were always a grandkid favourite. When out with grandpa and grandma, I always got grandma's gentle squeeze while grandpa would hold Gareth's hand so tight. Whenever I see Easter bonnets I am reminded of when she was in her 80s and needed one or started singing lessons so that she could sing in church. As I've gotten older I've loved taking my kids to the Villa to visit GG and she never minded the mess of chaos of little ones and the kids always loved visiting GG, getting her cards in the mail, and of course they always remember that September means a party at Pickles for GG's birthday. She is gone but not forgotten: in the little memories, in the way she made us feel loved and come together, and in the way at she showed us to look on the bright side. Love you bigger Grandma.

E

Eleanor posted a condolence

Friday, June 6, 2025

Eleanor’s Eulogy My mom was awesome!  Her life spanned a century and she never stopped being interested in life. When you live as long as my mom there is no one left to remember the younger days-but mom's memory was amazing so I thought it would be interesting to share some of mom's "I remembers" When mom was a girl she liked to play baseball. She liked reading and writing stories when she was in school. Despite living on a farm for many years of her life mom never milked a cow-her dad told her if she never learned how she would never have to do that chore. Mom talked about dating before social media, and having to rely on church socials as a way of meeting perspective beaus. She always knew she wanted to marry my dad Cecil, and considered sending him a valentine without signing it before they were together. She told me she loved my dad as much on the day that he died as she did on the day she married him. Mom and Dad were married for 62 years and had 4 daughters and a son., with their family growing to include 3 grandsons, 3 granddaughters, 4 great grandsons and 4 great granddaughters. They lived on the farm and worked hard- always a team. Mom would bake 4 or 5 pies on a Saturday morning -of course with no recipe and a wood stove. Mom would can 100 jars of fruit and pickles each year-of course from produce from the garden and fruit trees. She was a great cook and baker -her butter tarts legendary. Life was good but as in all lives there were also some very difficult times especially the loss of a much loved son and daughter. My mom was resilliant- her faith and family values helping her through hard times. My mom was a very social person-she loved gatherings and always kept in touch with cards, calls and letters and of course birthday cards, with stickers on the envelope. She had a gift of inspiring connection,to make friends and make everyone feel special. She loved family and friends so much. Mom was truly interested in everyone’s stories. She always had time for a visit. Mom loved her birthday and celebrated it for the entire month of September. Mom understood self-care before it was a thing. Without a doubt mom was always inclined to be positive and could see the best in every situation and every person, sometimes annoyingly so. Mom was always interested in learning new things and meeting new people. She enjoyed travelling and very impressive for a country girl born in the 1920s made it to both coasts of Canada, Florida, Nashville, Alaska and Europe. Mom was an avid reader all of her life-recently enjoying audiobooks. Mom liked to learn new things from knitting, square dancing, art lesson, singing lesson, to even rising to the challenge of technology in her later years. At age 99 mom was using Alexa to set reminders and research things she wanted to better understand. My mom was a smart cookie ! But perhaps the most endearing quality was mom's kindness to everyone - pets included. I remember mom sitting outside at night during thunderstorms to comfort scared canine family members. Mom enjoyed providing temporary homes to pets while family members settled to her recent visits with her friends cat, Sweetiepie Mom always had a smile and a kind word for everyone, strangers included- she radiated warmth, friendliness and acceptance. Mom made everyone feel loved and welcomed. Our world has changed. What hasn't changed is the love Mom shared with us and her example of a life well lived. Thanks Mom. We love you. You will be missed. We won't forget you!

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Becky posted a condolence

Friday, June 6, 2025

She was a beautiful soul and brightened my day when she stopped in at the pantry for a coffee.

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Donna Pinguet posted a condolence

Thursday, June 5, 2025

I am sorry to hear of Marie's passing.My mom, Grace (Graham) Pargeter would have remembered her fondly and and spoken of her often when she was alive. Ourcondolences to you and your families❤ Sincerely, Donna&Janice(Pargeter)

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Ashley Hoskin posted a symbolic gesture

Thursday, June 5, 2025

I worked at the Port Perry Villa and Marie always lit up a room when she walked in. Her sweet smile, caring heart and kind friendship will never be forgotten. I thoroughly enjoyed teaching her about her tablet, doing crafts together and walking into the dining hall and seeing her smile. My sincerest condolences to her family

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Linda McMillan posted a condolence

Tuesday, June 3, 2025

My condolences to all the family. I knew Marie all my life. A lovely lady. Later she came to my home to have her hair done. I remember one story she told and I have chuckled over it many times. She said after 40 years I am not making pickled beets anymore. I am tired of the mess and I don't really like them. So I told Cecil no more pickled beets! He said that's fine, I don't really like them anyway. Linda Venning McMillan

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John & Janis Fair, Lucas Fair , Brett Fair & Cara Coghlan purchased flowers

Tuesday, June 3, 2025

John & Janis Fair, Lucas Fair , Brett Fair & Cara Coghlan

purchased the Purple Designer's Choice for the family of Marie Gibson. Send Flowers

Wishing you comfort during your time of grief.

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The family of Marie Gibson uploaded a photo

Tuesday, June 3, 2025

In loving memory of

Marie

1925 - 2025