April 18, 1944 – February 9, 2022
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Marilyn Doreen Stewart on February 9, 2022 in Thunder Bay, Ontario, surrounded by her loving family. Marilyn was a kind, generous and loving soul who will be deeply missed by so many.
Marilyn was born on April 18, 1944 in Toronto, Ontario, to Dorothy Jean Linton and Dr. Kenneth McPherson. She grew up on Glenwood Crescent and fondly remembered close neighborhood friends like John Watson and his family. She graduated from the University of Toronto with her BScN and RN in 1966. Her nursing career began in Toronto at Lakeshore Psychiatric Hospital and continued across Ontario to Sioux Lookout, London and Thunder Bay, concluding her nursing career at the Thunder Bay District Health Unit where she worked for 27 years, developing a wonderful group of lifelong friends.
Always a devoted mother above all else, Marilyn declared that the loves of her life were born on July 25, 1972 (John Vernon Legge) and March 13, 1974 (Stuart Pharon Legge) to her and Dr. David Legge. During the boys’ childhood, she was a woman who really did everything. She was a working mother who raised her boys with great love and affection. She traveled extensively with them to expand their horizons in wonderful places like Greece, France, Mexico, Barbados and China. She also supported her boys in their pursuits and during this busy time getting them to and from hockey games, she also found time to pursue studies in psychology and sociology with additional courses in anthropology. Marilyn has always had a taste for learning throughout her life and has encouraged and supported her entire family in their pursuit of education in every way possible.
On December 26, 1980, she married Gerald William Stewart. He gladly welcomed Marilyn’s boys into the family and treated them as his own. He was a devoted husband to Marilyn until his death on February 15, 2004, after numerous illnesses.
Marilyn continued to deepen her studies by traveling with University of Waterloo alumni, with friends and with her family. She has spent time in Russia, Ireland, Kenya, Peru, Turkey, Nepal and many other amazing places. Bridge became another source of enrichment for Marilyn’s life during her retirement. She made many new friends, participated in many tournaments and really enjoyed the challenge of learning new skills.
Over the past 11 years, Marilyn has developed a close friendship with Al Law, which also included training in golf, baseball, football and other sports. They helped each other in many ways and spent time together eating out and watching movies.
It is evident from groups of friends too large to mention here that Marilyn was a good and kind person who freely gave all of her resources to help others. She drove friends to games of bridge, she took in stray animals, she encouraged and supported her family and friends through every stage of life, and she never asked anything in return from anyone. She was never judgmental and helped people from all walks of life wherever she was. Marilyn made lifelong friendships everywhere she went. She was a loving mother to her sons, a generous mother-in-law to John’s wife Kim, a devoted and deeply cherished Nana to Jackson, and a good friend to so many. We are all better people because of Marilyn’s influence in our lives.
Marilyn and her family would like to express their deepest gratitude to all the doctors and nurses who took such good care of her during her illness.
At Marilyn’s request, due to covid, there is no funeral date for the moment. To honor Marilyn’s memory, she asks you to be good and kind to each other. In lieu of flowers, a donation to Marilyn’s favorite charity, the Canadian Wildlife Federation Inc. would be appreciated.
Published by the Thunder Bay Chronicle Journal on February 12, 2022.
