Marion Gertrude McNabb

Marion McNabb passed away peacefully, at home, surrounded by family at the age of 97.

Marion Gertrude, born December 8, 1928, was the only daughter of Earle and Bessie Keating who farmed at Silverton, Manitoba.  Marion attended grade school in Silverton and high school in Russell, graduating in 1946 as Valedictorian of her class.  In 1949, she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of Manitoba (United College, now the University of Winnipeg).

In 1950, Marion was employed as Director of Youth Work with The Manitoba Federation of Agriculture and Co-operation (MFAC), forerunner to Camp Wannakumbac.  It was there she met the love of her life, Mac McNabb.  Mac and Marion were married on September 12, 1952, and began their lives together in Strathclair.  Their four children were born during their time there.   In 1965 they bought the Jackson farm in the Basswood district and mom remained there until her death, March 16, 2026.

Marion was a product of Rural Manitoba.  As well as being a partner, a mother, a grandmother and nana, she was an active farmer, a volunteer, an activist, a mentor and a supporter of those who worked for justice. 

Mom was always active in her community, but it was the Manitoba Women’s Institute (MWI) that inspired and energized her.   She became its President in 1982, where she gave leadership in issues around family law, land use, drug and alcohol awareness, rural health, wife abuse and family violence.  At the National level, while on the board of Federated Women’s Institutes of Canada (FWIC), Marion co-authored and presented a brief to the Royal Commission on New Reproductive Technologies.  That same year, 1990, she also chaired a national Rural Child Care survey and presented its report to Health Canada.    At the International level, Marion was a member of the Canadian planning committee for the triennial conference of The Associated Country Women of the World (ACWW) being held in Vancouver in 1983.  Mom took on the task of organizing the 95-voice conference choir, as well as procuring the material for the choir gowns from the Hudson’s Bay Company in Winnipeg.  She always said, “Where did I find the courage to do that?”

For several years in the 1980’s, Marion served as chair of the Manitoba Farm Land Ownership Board and vice-chair of the Manitoba Mediation Board.  In the early 1990’s, she was an appointed member of the Minnedosa Hospital and Personal Care Home Board, and later, represented the board on the Marquette Regional Health Authority.   She was an active participant in the process of creating the Minnedosa’s Palliative Care Program.

Mom was deeply passionate about music.  She learned to play piano at an early age and sang solos at many festivals and weddings.  In later years, she took up playing the alto sax in the Minnedosa community band.  It was at this time she helped integrate the music program, band in particular, we now have in Rolling River School Division schools.   She was a proud grandma, both watching her grandchildren play in the band, and knowing she played a part in providing that opportunity.  She sang in United Church choirs in Strathclair, Basswood and Minnedosa, was involved with the Strathclair Theatre Chorus and Drama Club and spent many years working with the Rolling River Festival of the Arts.

In 1989, Marion received the YWCA Women of Distinction Award in Agriculture, one of the awards presented to honour women for their leadership, resilience and community impact.  Marion never gave up striving for excellence.  In 2020, at 91 years, her essay, “Edward Richard Schreyer, Governor General of Canada 1979-1984”, won the Senator Cairine Wilson Essay Competition, a competition held in conjunction with each FWIC triennial convention.

Marion had a great passion for gardening and flower arranging, sewing, quilting, card playing, and in later years, Sudoku.  Her greatest passion was spending time with family and friends.   During Covid, mum wrote the following, “I like to remember the overnight guests we had – from parents, aunts and uncles, cousins and good friends as well as hockey, baseball and choir billets.  My memories are of rivalry over board games and Push Rummy, of bedtime snacks and stories, of sibling rivalries, but most of all the Music.  Practicing everything from piano and drums, to guitar, saxophone and clarinet was common.  And then Jason’s high school Rock Band rehearsing in the basement, and later DagNabbit (complete with mics), New Year’s Day music with the Gameys added violins.  So many memories to enjoy during these months of isolation.”  As mom slowed down, following the Covid time, she was ever ready to share memories from her past with all who visited.  Her memories were a great source of comfort.

Marion is predeceased by her husband Mac, her youngest son Jamie, her brothers, Charles (Alice), Donald (Gloria), Jack (Joyce) (Jack’s first wife Sheila) and Mac’s brothers, Jack (Betty), Gordon (Gwen), Roy, Peter and baby siblings Elizabeth and Archie.  She is mourned by her daughter Elaine (Neil Thomson); son Charlie (Darlene) Corey (Jenna) and their children (Cashe, Sophia), Brennan (Marly) (Fallyne, Hustyn, Brigham); son Clark (Sherrie) Jason (Samantha) (Jett, Addison), Brad (Jenni) (former partner Megan Harty) (Ryder, Tayvin, Rylan, Jaxon), Jodi (Colton, Kenzi, Cruz, Dekker, Tatum); former daughter-in-law Terry (David (Sara), Randi, James); daughter-in-law Rosy (Cole, Cyle); sisters in-law Patt Keating and Marjorie McNabb; many  nieces and nephews. 

Cremation has taken place, and a celebration of her life will be held at Cadurcis Cemetery (rain location Basswood Hall) on Tuesday, June 16 at 2pm.  Lunch and music (open jam) to follow at Basswood Hall.  Should friends choose, memorial donations can be made to Camp Wannakumbac, PO Box 125, Onanole Mb. R0J 1N0, or through the website.

Special thanks to mom’s doctor, Janna Kingdon NP and to nurses Kara, Shauna and Melissa for your compassionate care.   A very special thank you to Megan for the many hours you devoted to mom over the last two years.  Your love and compassion will never be forgotten.

      “It’s a truly wonderful thing when we can live out our lives, with unbounded pride in who we are because of who our parents molded us to be.”

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Marion Gertrude McNabb, please visit our floral store.