Marie Anne Stewart

It is with profound sadness that we announce the sudden passing of Marie Anne Stewart (Whyte), age 65 years, of Ogema, SK on December 3, 2018 at the Regina General Hospital. Marie is predeceased by her grandparents Watson & Annie Whyte, Cornelius & Jennie Verboom; father Clinton Kenneth Whyte; father and mother in law Harold & Olivia Stewart; and son in law Dean Culbert.

Marie will be forever missed by her loving husband of 47 years, Gordon; mother Doris; children: Dawn (David), Jody (Geof), and David (Cherry); her grandchildren Kelsey, Colton, Noah-Dawn, Jonah, Joran, Brock, Alexander, Olivia, Johanna and Valentina; siblings Doreen (Terry) and Kenneth; special friends Jennie (Kristjan) Thordarson, Kerrie (Tim) Boyd, Rosemary Stewart, Leone Sherk, Gin & Dave Keeler; lifetime friends Harvey and Margaret Miller; and numerousnieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and extended family & friends.

The first of three children, Marie was born in Assiniboia, SK on August 11, 1953 to Clinton and Doris Whyte of Bengough, SK. She grew up on the family farm and went to school in Bengough. On the farm, Marie loved her dog, Buster and enjoyed the chickens until the rooster chased her and put an end to all that! Marie married Gordon Stewart on August 28, 1971 and they made their home in Ogema, SK. Together, they raised a family, Dawn (1971), Jody (1974) and David (1976). Outside of being a mother and a fantastic homemaker, Marie worked as a custodian for the Royal Bank and the Etta Heron Building in Ogema. In 1985, she and Gordon began their long tenure as custodians of the Ogema School. Marie retired in August of 2016 after 37 years of service with the Southeast Cornerstone School Division. Marie also cared for and became ‘Nana’ to many children over the years, a trend she often repeated as the little ones were dear to her heart. She considered them all family, as she also welcomed so many of Dawn, Jody and David’s friends into her heart and home with delicious food, care packages and even a stern word or a look to keep you in line!

Marie put her heart and soul into taking care of all those around her. Absolutely everything was not only homemade but home grown as well. From her extensive garden, she provided for the entire family, and beyond, throughout the entire year. If there was a piece of land to be had, she would have Gordon till it and soon something would be peeking up from the soil. Her jams and jellies, pickles and relishes were sought-after in her large family circle. Each of you knows who you are, and she happily supplied enough for everyone. She always warned “this year I won’t grow as much, we have enough”, and yet somehow she would be sending you pictures of wheelbarrows full of tomatoes or cucumbers and a quick message to report the total weight in pounds of carrots. If there was enough of one thing she would just find something else to make - nothing was ever wasted. Marie worked tirelessly and usually finished before the heat of the afternoon sun had her relaxing by the radio to listen to the Blue Jays game while working on her latest project.

It’s hard to believe she had time for more, but indeed she did. Her hobbies; sewing, crafting, crocheting, cross stitch, ceramics, quilting, scrap booking and oh, the beanie babies! Marie believed strongly in volunteerism and serving the community in any way she could. Over the years she volunteered, was a board member or a chairperson for many organizations. To name a few, Ogema Recreation Board, Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association, the Badlands Recreation Association, Ogema Minor Ball, Ogema Regional Park, United Church Explorers, and her greatest love the Deep South Pioneer Museum. Marie was passionate about history and genealogy. Digging and researching into the past, she spent countless hours compiling the story of our family history. When she exhausted one avenue, she would begin another branch, her appetite for more was insatiable. As a historian, she worked closely and forged strong bonds with Beth Hudson, Lorraine Iverson and Bev Mead and many other friends. Most recently, Marie worked on the War Memorial project for the Deep South Pioneer Museum. Her love of history will be a legacy for so many to enjoy in the years to come.

Family was most precious to Marie, especially her grandchildren. Often you could hear, ‘Nana will fix it’ and she was happiest with her them all around her. An afternoon spent with Nana baking or making jam, the biggest fan on the sidelines or repairing a beloved stuffed animal. She never left anyone out and made sure to do something special for each one, it all came straight from her heart. Marie was also very close with her Mom, Doris. Together they baked and worked in their gardens making sure there was enough to go around. The two of them could often be found putting their heads together, digging through family photos and making our family albums that we shall forever cherish. Sow, nurture and harvest; life at home was uncomplicated for Marie and Gordon. Together they provided a strong family foundation that will withstand any storm. The accomplishments of each family member can be attributed to the love and never ending support they so easily gave. Marie had a special place in her heart for all the stray cats they took in, cared for, and found homes for. Especially Coco, Missy and Mouse, who have become permanent family members. A highlight for Marie and Gordon was their ‘trip of a lifetime’ to Scotland in 2003 to celebrate Marie‘s 50thbirthday. The experience was made even more special by staying with new found family, Rosemary and Bob Stewart. Their hosts gave Marie and Gordon lasting memories of time spent in Scotland including a trip to Edinburgh Castle to see The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo perform.

A celebration of Marie’s life will be held on Monday, December 10, 2018 at 1:00 pm at the Heritage Hall in Ogema, SK. Family and close friends are invited to a private interment at Amulet Cemetery, Amulet, SK. Donations in Marie’s name can be made to the Deep South Pioneer Museum in Ogema, SK.

A heartfelt thank you to the Pangman Health Center Emergency Medical Technicians, the surgical teams, SICU nurses and staff at the Regina General Hospital for their valiant efforts to keep her with us.

Marie is forever in the garden, looking after us all from afar.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Marie Anne Stewart, please visit our floral store.