MARILYN (MARNIE) GRACE KARLBERG

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MARILYN (MARNIE) GRACE KARLBERG

On Monday, July 22, 2024, Marilyn (Marnie) Grace Karlberg passed away peacefully with loved ones by her side.

Born in Winnipeg in 1931, Marilyn was predeceased by her father Carl, mother Beulah, brother Bill and sister-in-law Marion Hansen. Surviving are her brother Harley and sister-in-law Myrna Hansen.

Marnie enjoyed growing up in the Fort Rouge neighbourhood with her two younger brothers, and spending time at her parents' cottage on Lake of the Woods. It was here that she met the love of her life, Bill, in 1949. The next few years proved to be busy and happy as they got married and started their family together, settling in Keewatin, Ontario. In 1953 Marnie graduated from nursing school and started her career before moving with her growing family to settle back in the Riverview neighbourhood in Winnipeg, where they would reside for the next 63 years. Marnie enjoyed a long and fulfilling career at Riverview Health Centre as the head nurse of the cancer ward before retiring in 1985 but continued her work of caring for others for another 20 years, every Monday, through her volunteer hours at the Health Sciences Centre Intensive Care Unit.

Bill and Marnie enjoyed travelling together in their retirement years, sending postcards to their grandchildren from their trips around the US, Norway, and other parts of Europe. But they enjoyed most of their days at their beautiful second home on Clearwater Bay, Lake of the Woods, where Marnie had an award-winning garden and loved to host family and friends for many a dinner party. Their cottage was known all around the bay for its big round window looking out onto the lake, and Marnie enjoyed reading and quilting there for many years. Marnie was an avid quilter who did beautiful work. She was proud to be the president of Manitoba Prairie Quilters for several years and was instrumental in bringing Quilt Canada to Winnipeg in 2004.

Marnie was diagnosed with ALS in 2020 but kept a positive attitude, enlisting her devoted husband to help her keep quilting, and still attending her granddaughter’s track meets as long as she could. Her and Bill were able to celebrate 71 years of marriage this past spring, and he remained her rock in her final days.

In addition to Bill, Marnie leaves to mourn her passing her sons, Kerry, Blair (Carol) and Ward (Karen), daughter Cathe (Jim), grandchildren, Devon (Ryan), Joel (Jenna), Robyn (Graham), Rebecca (Ashton) and Amanda (Elliot), and great-grandchildren, Oliver and Elodie.

The family would like to express their sincere thanks to the incredible team at St. Boniface palliative care for their kind and compassionate care of Marnie as long as possible.

In accordance with Marnie’s wishes there will be no public Celebration of Life, with her family having a private service together at the cottage at a later date. In lieu of flowers, if friends so desire, a donation to the ALS Society of Manitoba (2A-1717 Dublin Avenue, R3H 0H2) in Winnipeg would be gratefully accepted in Marnie’s memory.

"To Those I Love and Those Who Love Me"

When I am gone, release me

and let me go.

I have so many things to see and do.

You mustn’t tie yourself to me with tears;

Be happy that we had so many years.

I gave you my love, you can only guess

How much you gave to me in happiness.

I thank you for the love you have shown,

But now it’s time I travel on alone.

So grieve a while for me,

if grieve you must,

Then let your grief be comforted by trust.

It’s only for a little while

that we must part,

So bless the memories within your heart.

I won’t be far away, for life goes on;

So if you need me, call me and I will come.

Though you can’t see or touch me,

I’ll be near, and if you listen

With your heart you’ll hear,

All of my love around you soft and clear.

And then, when you must

come this way alone,

I’ll greet you with a smile and say,

"Welcome Home."

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jul 27, 2024, Jul 27, 2024