Browse the obituary of residing in the province of Ontario for funeral details
Marian Jean Whitfield (née Campbell) passed away Wednesday January 5th, 2023 at the age of 100 years and 95 days.
She leaves behind and is mourned by her children, Peggy Bird (David) of Nova Scotia, Catherine O’Brien (Terry) of Kincardine, Stephen Cross (Bonnie) of Stratford and Barbara Cross-Tedesco (Ted) of Media, Pennsylvania and her grandchildren, Chris Thomson, Michelle Oros, Chris Butters, Melanie O’Brien, Laura Woods and Peggy O’Brien were always in her thoughts.
Mom had 11 great-grandchildren who filled her days with laughter and joy.
Marian was predeceased by brother Jack Campbell, her son and daughter-in-law, Michael and Irene Butters, and her husbands, Eric Butters – U.K., Gilbert Cross – Kincardine, John Mitchell – Kincardine and William Whitfield – Listowel.
Mother was born in Detroit, Michigan on October 3rd, 1922. She went to public school there but in the summer, she lived in Kincardine at the cottage behind the fairgrounds. Her days were full of friends swimming at the beach and off the dock. When she was back in Detroit, Mom was lucky enough to attend numerous Detroit Tiger’s ball games and Red Wings hockey games because her Dad who worked for the Detroit Times got complimentary tickets.
Marian was proud of her Kincardine heritage and made sure we learned that our great great- grandfather who was a path master, got a crown land grant downtown, that his house at 786 Princes was one of the first brick houses in town, that the parking lot behind the Royal Bank was her mother’s orchard and that Uncle Tony and his partner owned and operated the pavilion
Mother earned a scholarship to Wayne State University at 16 years of age, but finished it 40 years and 5 children later at Waterloo University.
She married Eric Butters an R.A.F. officer stationed at Port Albert, but sadly in 1944, she travelled on Winston Churchill’s flying boat to the U.K so he could meet his newborn son before dying. Mom stayed for 6 months through the Blitz during W.W 2 and then returned to Kincardine. Five years later she married Gilbert Cross, the local baker. Seven years passed and we moved to Stratford so Mother could attend Teacher’s College at the age of 40. She taught for 25 years in Stratford and then Listowel. Every second year she took courses to upgrade, but every other year we camped from one end of North America to the other.
In 1971, Marian married John Mitchell who passed a mere 3 years later. When Mom retired in 1987, she took a 6 week wilderness camping and portaging course from Lakehead University. Then she traded her canoe and backpack for a suitcase and went to France for a month. Three months after that she married William Whitfield and became a dairy farmer’s wife.
Mom travelled around the world and drove to Nova Scotia every summer, taking a different grandchild with her each year. When Bill passed away 20 years later she moved back to Princes Street in Kincardine to be close to family. She was at Tiverton Park Manor for only one month, but loved the food and said they were all so kind.
Mother was a master quilter, winning prizes at all the fairs, a weaver, a voracious reader, a lifelong learner, a culinary teacher, a hospital volunteer and a euchre playing world traveller. She always said “life is not a destination, but an adventureous journey where you meet the most interesting people.”
We, the family, would like to thank Dr. Roth, Kylie Pike, Suzanne Craven and Mona Brown from Rural Home Care for keeping her healthy these last 16 years and Dr. Murray and the nursing staff for their kind and gentle care her last 4 days.
Inurnment will be held at Kincardine Cemetery in the summer when we can all come home.
In her memory, donations can be made to the Kincardine Hospital Foundation.
Thursday January 5th 2023
Death notice for the town of: Kincardine, Province: Ontario
death notice Marian Whitfield Thursday January 5th 2023
obituaries notice Marian Whitfield Thursday January 5th 2023
We offer our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Marian Whitfield Thursday January 5th 2023 and hope that their memory may be a source of comfort during this difficult time. Your thoughts and kind words are greatly appreciated.
