Marion ROBINSON

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ROBINSON: Marion Frances Robinson was born in the Whitewater District of the R. M. of Cameron on March 10th, 1920 to Hillyard and Maggie Robinson. Marion was the youngest of five children. As a child, she enjoyed the companionship of her lively siblings on the farm, playing on a softball team, skating on the Souris River, and going on family camping trips to the Brandon Summer Fair where their mother would bake bread for the family on a common bake oven. She attended Whitewater School followed by the completion of high school in Hartney, where she and her siblings would stay at their grandparents, Cuthbert and Eliza Robinson's home, during the cold winter months. At the age of thirteen, Marion listened to the Gospel and made her choice to serve God. After high school, and attending business college in Winnipeg, Marion worked at the City Hall from 1938 to 1945. In 1945, she entered into missionary work, first in Manitoba, and then, from 1950 to 1958 in Saskatchewan. In 1958, Marion left for South Korea where she studied the Korean language and continued in the work. Her work in Korea was truly a labour of love. She loved the Korean people and they loved her. This has been so apparent by the outpouring of letters, calls and emails over the years from her friends near and far. Family was important to Marion and she kept in touch and enjoyed the visits with her Turnbull and Robinson cousins over many years. Home visits from Korea were special for Marion, but equally so for sister Margaret, and Gordon and Stewart and their families. She enjoyed watching her nieces and nephew and their children grow up. They, in turn would benefit from her baking, or her preparation of meals, especially appreciated during harvest. She was an excellent pastry maker, saskatoon pie being her favorite. When Margaret was sick, Marion considered it a privilege to spend so much time with Margaret in Regina. In 2003 she suffered a major stroke when visiting family and friends in the Hartney area. The stroke left Marion unable to speak or walk, and care was needed. She moved into the Souris Personal Care Home where she never ceased to amaze staff, family and friends with her ability to cope with acceptance, and to learn to effectively communicate using facial expressions, hand gestures and her bright smile. Never did she seem frustrated and she was always appreciative of what people did to help her. She enjoyed doing things on her own and being as independent as possible. Those close to Marion have been overwhelmed by the calibre of care that she has been given over these six years and especially these past few weeks. The staff was appreciative of Marion and the dignified way in which she lived and coped with her situation was certainly noticed. Marion was predeceased by her parents Hillyard and Margaret (Turnbull) Robinson, brother Charles in childhood, brother Stewart Robinson in 1979, his wife Doris in 1996, sister Margaret Robinson in 1983, and sister-in-law Beryle Robinson in 2006 as well as aunts, uncles and many cousins. Auntie Marion is survived by her brother Gordon Robinson of Hartney; nephew Donald (Kathleen) Robinson of Winnipeg, their children Michael (Melissa) Robinson and new baby Eric of Halifax, David Robinson and Gillian Robinson of Winnipeg; niece Lori (Jim) Denbow of Souris, their children Katie of Calgary, Alanna and Jeff at home; Stewart's daughters, niece Donna (Lyle) Manary of Sherwood Park and their five daughters: Linette (Bryce) Dreger, Lindsay, Brett, Connor and Kendra of Edmonton; Kara (Steve) Archer and their children Emma, Harrison, and Gavin of Vancouver; Geri (Jason) O'Brien and family Rory and Poppy of Vernon; Raeanne (Grant) Miles and their children Isabella, Jorja and Hunter of Edmonton; Shannon (Kirk) Lewis and their family Ayva, Macie and Jett of Edmonton; and niece Barbara (Wally) Strang of Edmonton. The family would also like to thank Kathy Bradford for her care and kindness over many years to Marion and Margaret, and more recently to Shirley Simpson who has loved and cared for Marion over her time in Souris. Had Marion had her wish come true, she would have lived out her final days in Korea and be buried with her Korean people, however that was not to be. Marion passed away on August 9th, 2009 and funeral services were held in the Souris and Glenwood Community Hall, with interment in the Robinson family plot in the Riverside Cemetery at Hartney, Manitoba.

As published in Brandon Sun on Aug 22, 2009