Obituary Overview
Marion Beth Russell
Marion Beth Russell passed away peacefully at 11:40am on Wednesday, December 27th in the Red Deer Regional Hospital, Palliative Care Unit at the age of 75 years.
Born in 1942 at High River, Alberta, Marion moved to the Joffre farming area in her early years with her parents, Irene and Lloyd Mitchell and older sister, Colleen. Eventually Marion met and married Austin Morrical in 1959 after a 2 year engagement. They settled in Lacombe initially, moving to Regina, Saskatchewan, where they lived for a few years until they came back to the Joffre area in 1965 to start farming. Along the way, Steven and Andrea were born in 1960 and 1961 respectively, fully with Christine coming along later in 1968.
An excellent cook, Marion was famous for her soups, sandwiches and field lunches, which came in very handy as she supported the field work in her family’s farming years, as well as hosting family, church and social gatherings in later years. On the farm she was also often found driving a grain truck, helping with the harvest as well as preparing meals for the rest of the « crew » or making the dash to town for parts to help keep things running.
Through the winter months, Marion developed a love for skiing as she and her family grew to become more and more involved in this winter pastime. Eventually Marion was talked into becoming a ski patroller at Canyon, a local ski hill, where she performed this service for a number of years. Andrea also enjoyed skiing and working at Canyon, Steven enjoyed skiing there also, just not so much the working part. Christine also became an accomplished skier as she reached her teenage and young adult years, working at various ski communities in New Zealand, as well as Rossland, BC, until her mid-twenties.
Unfortunately in July 1977, Marion’s daughter Andrea was killed when another driver crossed the center line and had a head on collision with the car she was riding in. This was a very traumatic and life changing event for the whole family, especially so for Marion.
Marion was offered and became part of the small ownership group at Canyon Ski Hill after Andrea’s death…she mostly became involved as a way to connect to and support a place that Andrea loved. Marion was proud of Canyon’s ongoing involvement and contributions to the Central Alberta communities and was very pleased to be able to pass on her part of the ownership to the present Canyon owners a few years ago.
A few years after Andrea’s death, Marion and Austin separated, divorced and went their separate ways. Marion, motivated by and wanting to make some sense from the death of Andrea, went back to school, firstly at Red Deer College, then moving to Calgary to continue her studies at U of C, where she completed Bachelors and Masters’ degree in Psychology. Marion was hoping to use this training and her Master’s thesis research to help others cope better with grief from traumatic life events.
When facilitating and counseling Divorce groups in Calgary, Marion met and became interested in another other group facilitator, John Russell. John must have had very good sense as he also became interested in Marion and they eventually wed in December, 1986.
Shortly before and after the passing of her father Lloyd in 1990, Marion was making many trips a month up to Lacombe to visit her mother, Irene, in her nursing home, wearing out a few cars in the process. She and John eventually decided to sell their home in Calgary and relocate to Red Deer to be closer to Marion’s mother and other family members. They bought their home at #9, Moseley Close in May 1997, gaining some great friends, who just happened to be neighbors, in the process.
Through it all, Marion had a steady, unwavering faith in God. She and John became members of Sunnybrook United Church, volunteering within the church and community as needed, from sewing choir gowns to assisting sponsored new Canadians getting their feet on the ground in their new adopted country.
Marion firmly believed the golden rule, « do unto others as you would want them to do unto yourself… », (reference Mathew 7:12).
Giving back to the community and to others less fortunate was a privilege in her mind. Marion always seemed to think about others needs before hers, with many little acts of kindness and support scattered throughout her days, often thinking of what she could do for others before taking time to do things for herself.
Even as John become more and more confused as his dementia took a bigger hold of him in the last few years, Marion never considered her care of John to be a burden. Sure at times she would admit it was difficult, but never did she consider herself hard done by, or suffering, by having to look after John.
In 2015 Marion was diagnosed with breast cancer. Marion was very concerned about who would look after John if she was « out of commission » while undergoing or recovering from treatment. After some long discussions, Marion finally agreed to undergo a mastectomy and radiation treatment as this wouldn’t slow her down much and would limit the cancer’s spread, allowing her to both take care of John while undergoing treatment and hopefully limit or put the cancer into remission. Chemotherapy was a non-starter as she felt she wouldn’t be able to do chemo, recover, and look after John at the same time.
Late 2016, the family and Marion eventually knew that John needed more care than Marion could provide and John was fortunate enough to get a room in a new assisted living facility that had a floor devoted to Dementia care. John resided here until his sudden passing due to a heart attack in May, 2017.
While Marion did have some months to enjoy a little travel, along with freedom to visit with friends without worrying about John, she became ill this last October and seemed to be getting worse by the week into late November. Her daughter-in-law Lisa Morrical went with her to her Doctor’s visit on November 28th, from that visit the Doctor Recommended that Marion and Lisa to go to the Red Deer Hospital for a battery of tests. Late that night, the diagnosis was given…the cancer was back, throughout her liver, it was very advanced and Terminal with a short timeline as the prognosis. Marion took the news matter of factly « I am not going to do any intervention or treatment, I am not afraid of dying…but I am afraid that I don’t want to suffer needless pain ».
She was admitted directly into the Hospital into Palliative care in the early morning of November 29th onto ward 32. Finally with the pain controlled, Marion could sleep and rebounded a bit over the next few days to the point that she even seemed to be recovering a bit. They moved her into a semi-private room a few weeks later in order to free up the Palliative private room for people with higher needs. Marion stayed on ward 32 throughout her illness and as her health gradually deteriorated was moved back into a private room in the Palliative ward where she passed away the morning of the 27th…one day short of a month from the day she entered the hospital.
She enjoyed immensely the many visitors that came by to visit her at the hospital and had many heartfelt conversations, laughs and a few cries. Her daughter, Christine, was able to make two trips up to Canada from her home in California, in order to ensure that she and her family were able to spend some quality time with Marion. Her son, Steven (Lisa) and their family, were able to visit on a daily basis, enjoying many moments with their mom and grandmother.
A wonderful blessing was a home visit to her son’s house on Christmas Day, allowing Marion to have « one last Christmas together » with her son, daughter and their families. She had an amazing time visiting with all her “little ones”…l her kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids, Marion even enjoying a little turkey supper. This day was very special for Marion and for her family, a true blessing with many great memories made throughout the day.
Marion was a great mom, an awesome person and a super grandmother, great-grandmother and true friend to many. She had a great sense of humor and was often called upon by her family or friends for insight, wise counsel, for practical matters like learning how to sew, cook, or just to have fun and hang out with for a while. Time spent with Marion was never wasted time. Her faith, good spirits and hope were also strengths for us all as she prepared to be reunited with her savior and departed loved ones.
Marion was predeceased by her parents, Irene and Lloyd Mitchell, ex-Husband, Austin Morrical (August, 2007), husband, John Russell (May, 2017) and daughter, Andrea Morrical (July, 1977).
Marion will be lovingly remembered by her youngest daughter,Christine Day; son, Steven (Lisa) Morrical; sister, Colleen Graham; step-children, Mark (Lori) Russell, Kent (Jenn) Russell and Lisa Russell; grandchildren, Aryn (Logan Fulmer) Morrical, Emily (Matt) Klein, Abbey (Cale McBeath) Morrical, Lauren, Ryan and Brooke Day, Taylor, Bailey and Caitlyn Russell; great-grandchildren, Lucas, Rosalind, Jacob and Lilly; nieces, Audrey and Marlene Graham; nephew, Ross Graham, as well as many other relatives, friends and close neighbors.
THANK YOU:
On behalf of Marion we would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the incredible staff on unit 32 at the Red Deer Regional Hospital, as well as personally thank Dr. McCall and Dr. Swainson. They were so very kind to our mother in her time of need.
To the many folks who helped Mom and John throughout the years, especially as John became less capable of fending for himself….Thank You!!
To the folks who looked after Mom and her home, special friends, more than neighbors…Thank You!!
MEMORIAL SERVICE:
A funeral service and celebration of Marion’s life will be held at 2:00 pm on Friday, January 5, 2018, at Sunnybrook United Church, 12 Stanton Street, Red Deer.
SOME FAVORITE VERSUS:
I lift up my eyes to the hills– where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip– he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD watches over you– the LORD is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will keep you from all harm– he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.
Psalm 121 A song of ascents. (A PSALM THAT MARION FELT COMFORTED BY AND FELT CLOSER TO ANDREA WITH)
Everything in the world is about to be wrapped up, so take nothing for granted. Stay wide-awake in prayer. Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything. Be quick to give a meal to the hungry, a bed to the homeless—cheerfully. Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it: if words, let it be God’s words; if help, let it be God’s hearty help. That way, God’s bright presence will be evident in everything through Jesus, and he’ll get all the credit as the One mighty in everything—encores to the end of time. Oh, yes!
1 Peter 4:7-11 {Translation; The Message (MSG)}
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Marion Beth Russell 2018.source
Décès pour la Ville: Red Deer, Province: Alberta
