Marilyn Crandall, a life-long resident of Dawson Creek BC, passed away on Tuesday, April 18, 2023 in Dawson Creek at the age of 72 years.
Marilyn Jean Stefanyk was born on Saturday, March 24, 1951 at the Sisters of Providence Hospital in Dawson Creek, BC to her father Peter and her mother Ann.
Her siblings were Edward, Lawrence, James and Phillip. She was raised on the farm in Bonanza AB, just north of the Bonanza Store. Marilyn started school in the fall of 1958 and completed her elementary schooling at Bonanza School and was bussed into Dawson Creek for the duration of her junior high and high school years. On Christmas Eve in 1967, tragedy struck when Pete and Ann lost their family home and belongings to a tragic house fire that started in the attic. Marilyn graduated in June of 1969 from South Peace Senior Secondary School, specializing in Secretarial Studies. Marilyn secured employment at Canada Manpower, followed by a bookkeeping position at McCoy Brothers. In the mid-1970’s, Marilyn accepted a job at the Royal Bank in Dawson Creek as the personal secretary to the Branch Manager, most notably Don Kirschman.
On July 4, 1975 Marilyn married Blair Crandall at the Bonanza Gospel Chapel. They settled in the East Doe River area and had two children. Allison in 1979 and Travis in 1982. Throughout the duration of their marriage, a total of nine quarters of land were purchased in the East Doe River area, making them one of the larger farming operations in the community. An additional quarter of farmland was purchased in 1999 in Ponoka, Alberta which had ancestral ties to Blair’s family. In July of 2009, Marilyn and Blair separated and were divorced the following year. Marilyn moved into Dawson Creek and worked various jobs in the customer service industry and catering industry. After she retired, she enjoyed leisure time playing cribbage and floor curling at the local senior’s hall.
Marilyn’s grandchildren were the highlight of her life. Travis has two daughters, Arianna, born in 2002 and Emelia, born in 2008. Allison has one son, Reid, born in 2015 and one daughter, Elise, born in 2017. Throughout her entire adult life, she struggled with an autoimmune disease called Lupus – a serious condition in which the body attacks itself and its cells. Over the years, she was under the care of many doctors and many different medications were used to ease her symptoms. Multiple hospital stays ensued and ultimately, she passed away in the Dawson Creek and District Hospital, surrounded by her immediate family.
Marilyn is survived by her daughter, Allison, (Ryan MacIvor), her son, Travis; grandchildren Arianna, Emelia, Reid, and Elise; her brothers Edward (Elsie), Lawrence (Dorothy), and Phillip; sister-in-law Denise; nieces Shelli (Sean) and Stacey (Trevor); nephews Tom (Tamara), Tony, and Neil; great-nephews Wyatt, Seth, and Finn; great-niece Taylor; her Aunts Emma Greene and Jean McBratney as well as numerous cousins both in Canada and the USA.
Marilyn was predeceased by her parents Peter and Ann; brother James; sister-in-law Cindy and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.
A Celebration of Marilyn’s Life was held at Reynars Funeral Chapel in Dawson Creek on Saturday, April 29, 2023. Interment followed at Hill Haven Cemetery in Bonanza AB. For friends so wishing, donations may be made in memory of Marilyn to the South Peace Senior Citizens Association, Branch 74, 1101 McKellar Ave, Dawson Creek BC V1G 2S2.
For full obituary, please visit Reynars.com.