Marilyn VanDongen

Marilyn VanDongen (nee Walker) was born in Vancouver June 20, 1951 to Bill and Mable Walker. She grew up with one sister, Beverly in Coquitlam and New Westminster attending St Peters Elementary School, St Ann’s Academy & was part of first graduating class at Marion High. She attended Vancouver Vocational School and graduated as a Licensed Practical Nurse.

Working at St Mary’s Hospital, December 31st, 1971, Marilyn got off early enough to arrive at a Dominic Club house party in East Richmond at Midnight just in time to be kissed into 1972 by some farmer from Delta who she had never met before. He even came back for seconds. Their first date was Casey’s 21st birthday a week later at The Mad Dolphin in New West.

We married on September 29, 1973, starting an almost 52-year adventure together. We worked at Lornex Mines in Highland Valley with Marilyn working to computerize (keypunch in those days) the warehouse while Casey worked in the Mill. In May 74 we took off in our Volkswagen van to travel across Canada to St John’s Newfoundland and back. In years since we have traveled again to every province and territory dipping our feet in the Arctic Ocean in Tuktoyaktuk in 2006. We settled in Kamloops where Marilyn worked the very first shift at brand new Ponderosa Lodge as an LPN.

Starting our family, Diane-1975, Ken-1977, Neil-1978 and Sheila-1980, Marilyn did bookkeeping for Casey’s company “VanDongen Construction”. While raising the family she ventured into selling Mary Kay Cosmetics for many years, her smile and cheerful attitude being a great asset in this endeavor. She also went back to UCC for a Medical Office Assistant degree and worked for an acupuncturist, Kipp Mallory Drugs and a maternity leave of accounting at RIH.

Our Catholic faith being important to us Marilyn and Casey have been active in St John Vianney Parish in Westsyde since start up in 1979. Marilyn became very active in the Catholic Women’s League (CWL) serving as parish president, Diocesan president, Provincial Council and attaining status as Life Member in the National Council in 2007. Attendance at National Conventions allowed Casey to attend closing banquets after which they would explore that part of Canada for several weeks. The family has always been active in Pro Life Society and Pregnancy Care Center, now Hopewell Clinic. She volunteered tirelessly to these causes plus supported her children and grandchildren in whatever they pursued.

Travel has always been a large part of our lives. Canada travel highlight was 3 weeks in Nfld in 2010 including the Brigus Music Festival, capped by running into 5 separate Kamloops residents/couples in 4 days. Our first cruise was a family event celebrating her parent’s 50th from LA to Vancouver in 1992, the same year we were named provincial Family of The Year by Knights of Columbus. We also cruised around British Isles, the Caribbean, Alaska and another west coaster to Oregon. We enjoyed river cruises - Budapest to Amsterdam and visiting Casey’s Dutch relatives in 2012, The Yangtze 2013, Venice and Rome 2015, and culminating with back to back cruises in France after attending all the Easter triduum celebrations at Notre Dame Cathedral in 2016, We also enjoyed holidays by land and air in Mexico, Hawaii, Cuba, California and west coast US, Florida and New York.

Marilyn loved music, from the Mad Dolphin night club days attendance at concerts too numerous to mention, Western Canada Theatre subscription, Music In The Park from 1994 until she went into care, listening to sacred music and through to her last days in palliative care listening to “Flashback Seventies”. Marilyn also loved talking, wine, walking, reading, wine and more talking. We celebrated amazing anniversary parties for our 25th, 40th, 45th and 50th anniversaries.

We realize now that Marilyn’s long journey with Alzheimer’s began about 2010 when she felt she could not continue on CWL Provincial because she “just wasn’t feeling herself”. The roots of the disease had taken hold but it was not until late 2015 that “we figured it out”. Marilyn accepted the diagnosis without ever a complaint, saying “At least I don’t have cancer”. She was able to laugh at many quirky things the disease caused her to do as it gradually eroded all motor functions and mobility. 2017-2019 when she could no longer read or write she was Mrs. Claus in the Kamloops Santa Parade because she could still smile and wave. In Feb 2021, when her brain dictated she could no longer stand, she moved to the Hamlets at Westsyde. She had to be spoon fed last 5 years and became non verbal last 4 years. In the last year, the disease even robbed her smile. But she never lost her ability to kiss and I believe she knew me to the end. In 2017 she was named Honoree for the Walk for Alzheimer’s. She inspired the “Marilyn’s Memories Walk Team” and we encourage you donate in her honor at the following link. Together we find a cure and support local programs to help others cope with Alzheimer’s and Dementia alzbc.org/tribute-gift

Marilyn’s love will be missed by her loving husband Casey, her family - Diane & Ricardo, Ken, Neil, Sheila & Shaun, Angie & Steven. Above all she loved her grandchildren - Adrian (the Y2K kid) & Myah, Aysha, Izzy, Taylor and Jasmin. Her CWL sisters, St John Vianney parishioners and all whose lives she touched will remember her infectious smile, openness, and enthusiasm for life.

The family wish to thank the incredible care and rec team at the Hamlets at Westsyde. The dignity, respect, loving and caring manner with which they treated Marilyn and our family, the 4.5 years Marilyn called the Hamlets home was beyond exceptional. We thank June Corcoran who read to Marilyn weekly since 2016. We thank all those who visited Marilyn especially Tonia Howell and the SJV Eucharistic Ministry Team.

The Lord has welcomed Marilyn home August 26th, 2025 with “Well Done Good and Faithful Servant” with Casey and Neil at her side.

Funeral prayers will be held at St John Vianney Parish, 2826 Bank Rd, Kamloops, Sunday, September 7, 2025 at 7:00 pm. Mass of the Christian Burial will be on Monday September 8 at 10:30 am, with a celebration reception to follow.