Jack and I and Rick send our deepest sympathies to Don, Jennifer and family, and Allison and family at the loss of a wonderful person, wife, mother and grandmother. Also to Doug and Judy and their families on the loss of a very dear sister and aunt. We are thinking of you as you gather together to say your good-byes to Marianne. We all wish we could be there with you in person.

My memories of Marianne are from our day trips together. Jack and I, Karen, and Fern joined Marianne and Don for a boat cruise in the Gravenhurst area. We also enjoyed meeting them in Bracebridge at a restaurant to have some good food, and spend some together. We were invited to Don and Marianne's home on the lake and were treated like royalty! It was really fun to play the bowling and golf games on their TV too! All in all, time spent with Marianne and Don was always fun and enjoyable. We will miss her. But, we will also meet her again in heaven.

This picture was taken at the restaurant in Bracebridge. Cousin Glenna was able to join us too. The big smiles tell the whole story! Glenna, Marianne, Don, Jack, Karen. Photographer Fern.

Karen

I have many wonderful memories of Marianne. She and I were born cousins but became friends the year my family lived in an apartment in her family's home. I was in my early teens and Marianne three years younger. We spent many enjoyable hours playing together in the neighborhood and Auntie Flo took us to Girls' Craft night at Faith Bible Chapel every Friday night. As adults our friendship grew as Don and Marianne and my husband Bruce and I spent time together. I particularly recall their first visit to our home in New Hampshire. Don and Marianne were wonderful guests. Easy going and easy to please, they enjoyed everything, so we did too! One day we went into Boston to do some sightseeing and parked on Newbury Street -- a very chic and expensive neighborhood. In spite of our best efforts, we exceeded the two hour parking limit and had a bright orange $20 parking ticket on the windshield. Later in the day we found tee shirts with a bright orange logo that said, "Boston - A nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to park there!" Although tempted, we decided not to buy them as souvenirs since they were $20 a piece (a lot of money back then). The following Monday Marianne and Don went back into Boston alone to do some research on Don's family. They came back with another $20 parking tickets and two tee shirts, one each for Bruce and Don! What a great laugh we had!!

Over the years our friendship deepened through our time spent together, our shared faith and love of music, and a mutual interest in tracing our family's roots. As others have said, Don and Marianne were always gracious hosts at them home on the lake or wherever we happened to be together. I am grateful for the last couple of visits we had. Although fighting the cancer, Marianne was feeling well and we simply enjoyed being together.

Don, my heart goes out to you in the loss of your life's companion. May the Lord comfort and sustain you through these coming days.

Fern (Fraser) Woodruff

PS The picture of Marianne and me was taken in front of Fern's Country Cafe, a little cafe we stopped at on our way to Concord, Massachusetts (Concord is where "the shot heard round the world" took place - the beginning of the American Revolution. Also the home of the writer Louisa May Alcott.)

Will miss my mom’s spirit, her humour, her love for family and friends. We are all devastated, especially as we are not able to gather to celebrate her life with all those who knew and loved her. Please leave memories and photos —they help so much

This photo was taken at our Christmas gathering last year.

Aunty Marianne... She was faithfully present at all the family events even when not feeling so well. You wouldn't know anyway by the smile on her face. There are many memories growing up but I'll share a few.

I have such great memories of spending a week up at the Smith's home in Minden. Marianne and Don hosted me and my sisters and made us feel at home. We had a great time painting crafts with Aunt Marianne and tubing behind the boat while she watched and Uncle Don drove. She was always so warm and patient with us young teens. They took us out to for dinner to the Red Umbrella Inn across the lake.

Farther back, on many family occasions Aunt Marianne would share bits of info about the Fraser clan from all her research. I remember learning from her that we were related to Mary Queen of Scots! Also she would share stories with us about my dad's (Jim Fraser) younger years that gave us a glimpse into more of who he was even after he was gone. I always wished I had asked her more!

When I came home from living in East Africa for a stint, Aunt Marianne was happy to chat more about life there, as she sponsored a child through Compassion in Uganda. She had a big heart!

Love you and miss you Aunt Marianne... looking forward to a family reunion with you in Heaven!

Family was very important to Auntie Marianne. Kevin and I were happy that she was able to join in our wedding day. We will miss you dearly. Here she is with her brother Doug and sister Judi

Here is a photo of Marianne on the right, next to her Ruby Ireland , Mabel Baker at a Fair Havens ladies conference.