It is with great sadness that the family of Marilyn Marguerite Strickland, 77, of Fauxburg, Lunenburg County, announces her passing on Tuesday January 17th 2018, after a brief illness, at the Fishermen’s Memorial Hospital, Lunenburg.

Born in Centre, Lunenburg County on May 14th 1940, she was the daughter of the late Leonard Myer and Charlotte Marguerite Webber.

Marilyn had a career that spanned several decades, working in her earlier years both in Halifax and Toronto in the banking sector. For many years, she was employed with H&R Block in Lunenburg from where she had many long lasting happy memories of both her work and with the people whom she engaged with daily.

In her youth Marilyn enjoyed travels with family and these continued after marriage, particularly after the birth of her grandson, when she and her husband Charles would travel with frequency to visit their daughter Tammy, son in-law Paul, grandson Ryan and extended family in Vermont. Marilyn and friends in earlier years would frequently enjoy evenings either playing cards, Yahtzee or attending Bingo nights and as time passed this turned in to evenings playing Scrabble with her daughter in-law Stella and grand-daughters Sharon and Sharlene. Marilyn was extremely famous for her quick wit and wry sense of humor, Christmas fruit cake, decorating the house during the holiday season, and making sure there was an endless supply of potato chips and chocolates for everyone to snack on. Although petite in stature, she was known by those who loved her as a real force of nature. In earlier years and prior to the onset of arthritis Marilyn would enjoy doing ceramics and knitting. Throughout the years she enjoyed exploring genealogy and both she and her husband through the travels and work of her son, Charles and daughter in-law Stella, travelled vicariously to wherever her son and daughter in-law went. Through social media, she connected with and created relationships with in-laws in Sri Lanka and remained ever inquisitive.

Marilyn, a loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend is survived by her son Charles (Stella) of Halifax and Colombo, daughter, Tammy (Paul) Wilson, Italy Cross; grandchildren, Ryan, Sharon and Sharlene, younger brother, John, British Columbia, several nieces, nephews, cousins and very good family friend, Frances Webber, Lunenburg.

Marilyn was recently predeceased by her loving husband and best friend of over 50 years, Charles Ellison Strickland. She as well was predeceased by her mother and father, whom she adored, as well as her loving Aunt and Uncle Florence and Percival Hamm.

A service to celebrate Marilyn’s life will be held at 11am on, January 25th, 2018 at the Dana L. Sweeny Funeral Home, Lunenburg, Rev Alvin Westgate officiating. Interment will be at a later date at Sunny Valley Cemetery, Centre.

A further service and alms giving in memory of both Marilyn Strickland and her recently departed husband Charles Ellison Strickland will be held at a later date under the patronage of Carmel Xavier the mother of her daughter in-law, Stella, in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society, the Heart and Stroke Foundation, or to any other charity of choice.