Obituary of Marilyn Jean Turner
MARILYN JEAN TURNER
April 5, 1935
June 30, 2022
After a life full of adventure and dedication to her community, Marilyn passed away peacefully at the age of 87, under the care of the wonderful team at the North York General Hospital.
Marilyn will be remembered with love and gratitude by her brother Don, niece Joanne, nephew Steve, niece Karen, her husband Ted and their children Taylor & Oliver. Many special friends and family also share fond memories of Marilyn, including her Turner & Temple family cousins, university classmates, teaching colleagues and Inge & her family.
Born in Toronto to Arnold and Margaret Turner, Marilyn grew up on Shields Avenue and attended high school at North Toronto Collegiate Institute. She graduated with a BA from Trinity College and later obtained her MA in Languages & Modern History in Paris. After teaching in Grenoble and touring Europe on a motor scooter, Marilyn returned to Toronto to become a French teacher at York Memorial Collegiate Institute, where she spent her entire career. She especially enjoyed taking groups of her students on educational trips to France over Easter break.
The family cottage on Big Boshkung Lake in Haliburton was Marilyn’s sanctuary. She spent her summers by the lake, in the huge vegetable garden with her father, and later her brother, and was famous for her massive arm-length zucchinis. In her earlier years, she set up an easel on the front lawn and one of her oil painting masterpieces still hangs with pride in the living room. She also had a special chair where she would read two newspapers per day, study her Julia Child recipes, complete daily crossword puzzles and enjoy a glass of scotch.
Marilyn had a huge passion for the arts, was a gifted piano player and sang in her church choir for decades. She brought much joy to many church members confined at home by visiting or bringing them to church.
Marilyn was especially close to her dear “Brudzie Don” and they enjoyed their summers at the cottage, road trips, winter getaways, European tours and much-loved visits to the ‘Turner Farm’ in Fergus.
For the last six years, Marilyn lived at Amica Bayview Village and could not have been more content, in large part due to the support and care of her entire Amica team.
A service to honour Marilyn’s unique character and beautiful laugh will be held at the Humphrey Funeral Home A.W. Miles – Newbigging Chapel, 1403 Bayview Avenue (south of Davisville) on July 27th at 11:00 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Alzheimer Society of Canada. Condolences may be forwarded through www.humphreymiles.com.
© 2022 Humphrey Funeral Home A.W. Miles – Newbigging Chapel Limited. All Rights Reserved.
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