Marianne Louise Williams

WILLIAMS, Marianne

Marianne Williams (nee Maykut) passed into the arms of our heavenly Father on Tuesday, May 11, 2021 in Red Deer, Alberta after recently celebrating her 74th birthday.  

The loss of her joyful presence is felt by her husband, Milton; their four sons and families; son, James; son, Daniel and wife Maureen; son, Andrew and wife Rachel; son, John and wife Katherine. She is predeceased by her parents and oldest sister, Helen Forest. Left to mourn her loss are siblings, Lou Maykut, Jerry Maykut, Teresa Anderson, Cecilia Zdunich, James Maykut, Barbara Kessi, Frances Maykut, and Joyce Maykut. Marianne loved her grandchildren, Harrison, Emelia, Bria, Eliana, Luke and Owen. She was greatly looking forward to the birth of Daniel and Maureen’s child, Marianne’s seventh grandchild, in July. 

Marianne was born in 1947 at the Barrhead Hospital to her parents, Joseph and Lillian Maykut. Her family grew up near Naples, just north of Barrhead. The 9th of 10 children she had a wonderful childhood on the farm. One fond memory of hers, which predated the arrival of TV, was being held by her older brothers and twirling around the kitchen floor on a Saturday night listening to western music on the radio.  When TV did arrive, the comedic lines of “Why I oughta...” (The 3 Stooges) and “To the moon Alice” (Jackie Gleason) became permanent fixtures in the crazy and fun filled conversations with her sisters right through adulthood. Many hiking trips to the Rockies with her young family, her sisters, and their youngsters cemented those loving familial bonds.

After finishing school in Barrhead she attended the University of Alberta and completed her Bachelor of Education. Her career as a teacher began at Springfield Elementary school in Peace River, Alberta. She later moved to Red Deer and taught at local schools for the next 34 years, including Central Elementary, Fairview, Normandeau, and G.W. Smith. She was known for her integrity and her courage to speak up for what was right. Marianne is fondly remembered for caring deeply for her students, sharing pies and other treats, and for breastfeeding babies in the parking lot during lunch break before heading back to class. 

Marianne met Milton while in Peace River and they began dating after she moved to Red Deer, a few years later. They were married in 1980 and shared life together for over 40 years. She was proud of her family’s Polish heritage, infusing Polish words into daily life, and singing a Polish lullaby to her sons. She never hesitated to remind Milton that his lullabies were not as melodic as hers. She encouraged her sons in all they did and called them to love God with all of their hearts. 

In 1981, she was awarded a teacher exchange to Australia and she and Milton were off on their first travel adventure together. Marianne had already been to Iran, Turkey, England, Scotland, and Poland. In later years she visited New Zealand, Cook Islands, Tonga, Samoa, Fiji, Spain, Cuba, USA, Malta, and most recently Colombia. She and Milton walked everywhere on their trips and Marianne was often striking up conversations with locals about their lives and laughing with them. 

Nothing was more important to Marianne than her Catholic faith and her family. Marianne loved her siblings and while she was sick with cancer in recent months she looked forward to a daily rosary call with her sisters. She lived her values in many ways including volunteering at the CWL, St. Vincent de Paul society, parish council, and at the Michener Centre.

Marianne’s Catholic faith animated her whole life as reflected in her family, teaching career and volunteer work. She said that it was her faith and trust in Jesus that sustained her throughout her illness. It surprised no one when she often reminded us, and reminds us now in spirit, of the words of Jesus “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you should love one another.” John 13:35

A Funeral Mass for Marianne will be held on Friday, May 21 at her parish at Sacred Heart Church in Red Deer. Because of pandemic restrictions there it will be a Private Mass. Details about a live-stream video will be shared later. Memorial donations can be made to the Cross Cancer Institute, or Marianne’s church community of Sacred Heart Parish in Red Deer 4816 55 St, Red Deer, AB T4N 3V6.