Marion Alberta Bartlett (nee Dorcas)

Marion died peacefully at the Passamaquoddy Lodge on July 21, surrounded by family and cared for lovingly by the staff of the Lodge, her home for the last three of her ninety years. Marion was a "Harvey girl", the middle of three dynamic Dorcas sisters.

After graduation from Normal School, she taught at Bear Island, Burtt’s Corner and Black’s Harbour, and she remained an educator throughout her life. She taught Sunday School and Daily Vacation Bible School, served on the school board, and taught at Thelma Kirkpatrick School in St. Stephen.

In 1945, she married Lawrence Bartlett and they spent over fifty years in their home by the millpond at Bartlett’s Mills. Marion’s love of nature and her sense of wonder was a gift that she shared with her four children throughout her life. She was passionate about tending her gardens, both large and small, as well as studying birdlife. She was a formidable Scrabble player, a quilter, weaver, seamstress, knitter, bread maker, gardener and singer. She was a rabid Expos baseball fan and once they disbanded, by default, a Blue Jays fan.

Marion’s Christian faith underpinned her life, and her church communities in Bartlett’s Mills, St. Stephen and St. Andrews were very important to her. In recent years, the women’s Bible Study group of the St. Andrews Baptist Church was a constant source of inspiration, support and love.

Marion is survived by her sister Gertrude Delaney, two sons, Robert (Brenda) and Hugh (Karen), and two daughters, Chris Lister (Ross) and Francie Howard (Lance), by ten grandchildren, Michelle Lister, Matthew Lister, Dariel Green, Andrew Lister, Amy Bartlett, Leah Bartlett, Lesley Bartlett, Nathan Howard, Tiffany Bartlett and Graham Bartlett, by eight great grandchildren and by a clan full of nieces, nephews and in-laws. Happily, little Elise Marion Lister was born in time to be cuddled by the great grandmother after whom she was named.

Marion was predeceased by her husband, Lawrence, and her sister, Gen Swan.

There will be no visitation, but the family welcomes all those touched by Marion’s life to the funeral at Wesley United Church on William Street in St. Andrews on Sunday, July 24, at 3:00 p.m. A reception will follow at the All Saints Parish Hall on King Street in St. Andrews.

In lieu of flowers, the family hopes donations to the Passamaquoddy Lodge will be considered.