Obituary of Estelle Marion

Estelle Hélène Marie Marion (née Desrosiers), our beloved family matriarch, gracious friend, and devoted community member, passed away with family at her side on November 12,2024, at the age of 90. She was born on November 5, 1934, in the picturesque town of St. Malo, Manitoba. Estelle lived a rich and fulfilling life in love and legacy. She was the cherished daughter of Émilien and Ernestine Desrosiers. Growing up in a close-knit family of 17 children, she developed strong bonds that would last a lifetime. Estelle was a loving sister to her surviving siblings Leonne Barnabe, Celine Robertson, Jeanne Lipischak, Simone Gosselin, and Bertille (Lucien) Croteau, as well as sister-in-law Edith Desrosiers. She also shared a special connection with her surviving brothers, Robert (Sharon) Desrosiers, Guy (Claire) Desrosiers, and her sister- in-law Sr. Yolande Marion. On June 18, 1955, Estelle married the love of her life Alfred Marion (Fred). They were married for 63 years until his passing in 2018. Together, they built a beautiful life in St. Jean Baptiste where they nurtured their passion for farming alongside raising their six children: Gerald (Lena), Colette (Robert Gordon), Lynne (Jules Sabourin), Normand (Sherry Noble), Robert (Nicole Baudry), and Jean-Paul (Lisa). Their homestead was a testament to their hard work and dedication, filled with livestock, grain farming, and expansive vegetable and numerous flower gardens. She will always be lovingly remembered by her 16 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren, all of whom were touched by her unwavering love and dedication. Estelle was a pillar of strength and generosity not just within her family, but also within the wider community where she fostered relationships that flourished throughout her lifetime. Estelle's happiest moments were spent surrounded by her family, particularly at their cherished cottage where laughter and love filled the air. She instilled in her children the values of hard work, compassion, harmony and most importantly, love. To her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, she imparted the richest inheritance of all: the importance of family. Estelle's warm spirit extended beyond her immediate family. She was known for her social graciousness, always welcoming friends and visitors with open arms, offering them coffee and cake as she engaged them in heartfelt conversations. Her home was a sanctuary, a place where everyone felt the warmth of her love and kindness. The family wishes to express their heartfelt gratitude to the Palliative Care Unit staff at St. Boniface Hospital for their exceptional compassion and care during Estelle’s final days. A eulogy to celebrate Estelle’s beautiful life will be held on November 22, 2024, at 1:30 pm followed by a funeral service at 2:00 pm at the St. Jean Baptiste Catholic Church. In lieu of flowers the family kindly requests that donations be made to CancerCare Manitoba Foundation, honouring Estelle’s strength and the love she shared with everyone around her. As we mourn the loss of a remarkable woman, we remember Estelle as a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend whose legacy of love will live on in the hearts of all who knew her. Repose en paix Mom, Mémère. On t’aime beaucoup.