POSEIN, Marilyn Joyce 1943 – 2021

Marilyn Joyce Posein, formerly of Queenstown, passed away peacefully at the Vulcan Community Health Centre on February 23, 2021 at the age of 77 years.

Marilyn was born on May 2, 1943 in the Belleville Hospital. Marilyn and her parents, George and Frieda McLeod, moved to Leduc in 1945 after the war was over when Marilyn was 2 years old. Marilyn loved her Dad and when he left for months to go to Vancouver to be discharged from the Airforce and returned without wearing his uniform, Marilyn did not recognize him and cried “that’s not my Daddy”. This was one of Marilyn’s favorite stories to hear.

Marilyn was the first grandchild born to the McLeod family. Therefore she was special to Grandma and Grandpa McLeod as well as the 2 aunts and uncles. They took her everywhere they went and there were always treats along the way.

Five years later her favorite sister Karen came along. Marilyn drug her around like a doll. She was a proud and protective big sister and always invited everyone that came along the sidewalk to come in and see her baby sister. That did not last forever. Soon Karen became a little pest. Marilyn slept in the bedroom downstairs and Karen always wanted to sleep with her and the only way that was going to happen was if Karen would lick her finger and put it into the lamp light socket and Marilyn would pull the chain.

When Marilyn was in high school, she met a handsome farm kid – Edward Posein. They married and made their home in Edmonton, AB. On July 4th, 1960, their first son, Dale was born.

Marilyn loved people, especially older people. Her Uncle Billie was struck with Polio and Marilyn had the lady upstairs babysit Dale at least once a week so she could go faithfully to visit him in the hospital as he rehabilitated there for months.

Then their 2nd son Douglas was born August 10, 1962 and not long after they moved to Leduc, AB. They bought an old house half a block from her Mom and Dad’s home where there was always someone to lend a hand with the boys. Marilyn was never one to turn away anyone and often she and Ed would invite in friends, family and even old bachelors that had no family for a meal or a cup of coffee. Marilyn was always a wonderful caregiver.

Then Ed and Marilyn bought the Kavanaugh General Store and moved to Kavanaugh, AB. While Ed worked in Edmonton, Marilyn was running the store along with the Post Office. Since freight came in on Fridays, Marilyn’s sister Karen would take the school bus to Kavanaugh and help with Dale and Doug, who were never far from Marilyn as their home was at the back of the store. Things did not slow down for Marilyn even on Sundays as that was the only day to catch up on laundry and housecleaning. Marilyn was a good manager and she managed her time, money and the store. She was always organized and was never one to panic as she was mature for her age. In 1965, Ed’s job would relocate them from Kavanaugh to Queenstown, AB.

On April 12,1969, sister Karen married Ed’s friend LeRoy Sonnenberg. It was truly special as Marilyn was the bridesmaid, Ed the best man and it would be the beginning of many adventures of a lifetime together as they raised their families, worked, holidayed and spent many hours together.

Soon after, their 3rd son Darren was born on December 29th, 1969. With her family complete Marilyn could often be found busy in the community volunteering and taking the boys to hockey.

Marilyn stayed close with her family despite the distance back to Leduc. She talked to her mother and sister on the phone at least once a week, Ed and Marilyn came to Leduc for all the holidays and frequent visits. In 1988, her father passed away from cancer.

Marilyn had her first grandchild in 1990. She was always happy to have the kids stay with her and there were always weiner roasts and hot chocolate and lots of adventures in Queenstown. Marilyn and Ed made everyone feel special and growing up under their kind and caring influence is a memory they all treasure.

After she retired, Marilyn would travel to Leduc at least once or twice a year to spend a couple of weeks with her mother and to visit her sister, nieces, aunts, uncles and cousins. Those were always special times. Marilyn’s mother died in 2004 and this was a huge loss to Marilyn.

In December 2005, Marilyn had a devastating stroke. She was determined and fought back after some time in the Calgary Foothills Hospital and then 6 months in Ponoka Rehabilitation Hospital. From there she went home to Queenstown where she was lovingly cared for by her family. In 2006, Marilyn moved into the Vulcan Community Care Centre where she was given excellent care and spent the rest of her life surrounded by friends and family whom she was always eager to visit with.

Marilyn and Ed spent a lot of time with her sister Karen and brother in law LeRoy after they all retired. Even after Marilyn’s stroke, the 4 travelled to Maui once or twice a year staying at least one month a time there and they all said they were in Heaven and no body wanted to come home.

Ed was battling cancer for years. He was not well but he would still take Marilyn home to their Queenstown house for weekends and family get-togethers. They both looked forward for their children and grandchildren to come and visit. Ed was in the midst of moving into the room next to Marilyn at the Health Centre but could no longer fight the cancer. He passed away on July 17, 2012.

Marilyn was very involved in the Queenstown & Milo Communities .She was always ready to go that extra mile to help wherever needed. She helped plan many school activities and was very active in UCW, organizing many Fall Suppers ,the lunch for Milo Seniors, Vulcan Extendicare, Peter Dawson Lodge and Long Term care, she was a member of the Milo Ladies Curling Club.

Marilyn organized the Milo Race Meet Parade, was the Milo representative for Adult Learning for many years. She loved to work with numbers, bake, knit play cards, Bingo and many trips to the Casinos. She worked at the Bank of Nova Scotia, Milo Post Office and the Milo Seed Cleaning Plant.

Marilyn loved to travel to BC to get fresh fruit to can, to her niece Debbie’s ball games in US and Canada and she loved her trips to Maui and Las Vegas.

She was a friend to many. Marilyn had a strong sense of family, community and cherished her Grandchildren and Great Grandson. She will be greatly missed.

Marilyn is survived by her sons – Dale (Leslie), Doug (Vicki) and Darren (Anna) Posein, 7 grandchildren – Annalise, Delaney, Deiter, Pascale, Isabelle, Levi and Zoe, a great grandson Lincoln, sister Karen (Leroy) Sonnenberg, brother-in-law Leslie Posein and numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents and her beloved husband Ed Posein in 2012 and brothers-in-law Leroy, Donald, Gary and Dennis Posein.

A family Graveside Service and interment will be held March 1, 2021 at Hope Lutheran Cemetery, Milo, AB, Pastor David Sarsons officiating.

Any tributes in Marilyn’s memory can be made to the Vulcan Community Health Centre, Long Term Care Unit, Box 299, Vulcan, AB T0L 2B0.

Arrangements in care of Vulcan Funeral Home. Telephone 1-403-485-2633. E-mail condolences through www.vulcanfuneralhome.ca.