Marilyn Louise (Field) Sloan

It is challenging to write a biography of my mother, Marilyn Sloan. She never talked much about herself. However, this self-effacing person was at the same time a leader, with a strong will and superior organizing skills. You didn't end up knowing a lot about her personal preferences and reactions, but you knew the goals, and you knew you had the support.

On September 11, later a notorious date, 1934 she was born in Toronto. Her father, Wilfrid Field, was a lawyer, (later Field, Turner, & Dunn), named after Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier who his father had campaigned for. Her mother, Gertrude Frances Field (Collard) born in Guernsey, had been a teacher in her youth, and now assisted in the law practice. Her home was a semi-detached, #269 on Sheldrake Blvd, a lovely dead end street with many trees, and little Sherwood park at the end, with delightful wooden crocodiles and fanciful play equipment which we enjoyed visiting as children. She had older brothers, Dennis and Neil, and later a younger brother Bob. These were all excellent uncles, particularly Neil and Bob who had a talent for entertaining children. “I am the ghost of Benjamin Barrett, who was stabbed in the neck with a rusty carrot!” They had an Irish Setter, Mike. She attended Blythwood School and North Toronto Collegiate.

Her early years were influenced by the Great Depression. Her father was often paid for legal work in groceries, as clients were short of money. Once Mike contributed to the groceries with a pound of butter he stole from someone's doorstep, and delicately carried home. She was always very frugal, even when she no longer needed to be. The Depression imprinted on many of her generation this way.

During her childhood she had some struggles with her weight. Then she decided to do something about it and go on a diet, steadfastly refusing her favourite treat (cream puffs) her father brought home to tempt her. Ever after she used her iron determination to keep her weight well inside the normal range, but it was never easy. At the age of 14 she came home declaring she was going to be a pharmacist when she grew up, and that is indeed what happened. Attending the University of Toronto, she won the gold medal for top marks 2 years in a row, and came “only” 2nd the final year because she took the most difficult option (manufacturing). While there she met Alan Sloan (Civil Engineering) in a square dancing group. They graduated in 1956, and married on September 1st of that year. A honeymoon to a resort in Pennsylvania ensued, then working life commenced.

Things got busy fast, as I was born (Glenda Ruth Sloan, July 31, 1957). Nana Field generously cared for me regularly, as she later did for Bob and Carol's oldest son Ben. One year later to the day, Megan Elaine Sloan arrived. Breastfeeding was supposed to be a measure of birth control, but Mom says you can't rely on it! A move to Ajax followed, a bungalow in a new subdivision I dimly remember, with a little hill suitable for rolling down in the front yard, and hollow concrete blocks along the driveway. Judging from photos there were other young families in the area. In 1961 we moved to Sault Ste. Marie as Alan got a job there with Korah Township, which later merged into the Sault. They rented a house at the top of Pim St. (276), a story and 1/2, with a small garage, and some room in the back yard for a swing set and a vegetable garden. Andrea Louise Sloan was born December 11, 1962. There was some worry at this point as she had a medical problem with her diaphragm, which fortunately surgery quickly fixed once it was diagnosed, as she was rapidly starving to death.

Even though saving money was a priority, we all got music lessons. Another major thing she did for us was teach us to read before kindergarten, and also some basic arithmetic. She & Dad happened on a fun method of teaching a basic word, then hunting for it through the pages, with much praise for success. School was never a problem with that preparation. She worked part time as soon as Megan's and my kindergarten schedule permitted, and Andrea spent some time with a babysitter in those years. I also remember some visits to the YMCA childrens' programme, though I don't know how often that was. Eventually she was juggling many part time pharmacy jobs ('part time' 60 hours per week at one point), while organizing the music lesson schedule for 3 kids, medical appointments for everyone, meals, clothing ,family budget, of course housework, mending, various camping trips, and trips to see relatives in southern Ontario about twice a year . She and Alan were mainstays of the St. Andrew's United Church congregation, organizing and participating in countless activities. On Tuesday February 15th, 1972, Richard David Sloan was born in the evening, immediately after she finished doing the dishes for the church Pancake Tuesday event! That's efficiency. All of us kids learned to make dinner following instructions on a little chalk board in the kitchen. (“The baby's making dinner???! said her colleagues when Andrea called for clarification one time, aged about 6) IN 1969 we bought and moved to 21 Riverview Avenue, where we had more space.

Mom never liked driving, got her licence eventually, after some hesitation to take the test, but was an indispensable trip organizer. We had various camping tents over the years and did trips ranging from long weekends, to full-blown cross-country odysseys (Vancouver, Expo 67, the Maritimes, and Disney World Florida to name some memorable ones). How she managed to put together three meals a day for 5 or 6 people on a two-burner Coleman stove, sometimes in the rain, I'll never know!

Her major exercise was walking. She generally walked to work, time permitting, or caught the bus if not. Many visits included a walk with relatives. Regularly walking to church allowed time for discussions of life & politics. As a senior citizen, she still often walked to the grocery store, occasionally both ways. She could add up the total in her head while putting the items on the conveyor at checkup, remembering the cost of each item -so well that she once called out an error of a couple of dollars on a purchase totaling over $100, which the astonished cashier then verified. She was well known as the go-to person at work for all drug knowledge because of her fine memory, and conscientious study of new products. Back to the exercise, Megan as a teenager tried cross-country skiing, and soon we were all doing it every Sunday. In summer she and Dad did some canoeing on the camping trips as well as, of course, hiking and swimming. Most mornings she did the Royal Canadian Air Force XBX exercise workout also...coincidentally her daughter Andrea was later to serve in the RCAF from 1987 to 2022.

Ever since I can remember we all went to concerts and theatre regularly, stopping at a fast food place ( for instance the Girl in Red, A&W or Dairy Queen) for a post show milkshake or ice cream sundae afterwards. Very rarely we would go to a movie (Mary Poppins, Sound of Music). I remember sneaking halfway down the stairs after bedtime at the Pim St. house to see a little of The Magic Flute on TV. Our TV watching as children was fairly limited. Saturday morning cartoons, the Friendly Giant, Chez Helene, and later Sesame St. were the main ones. When we were older after school we were latchkey kids, but by then our habits were formed, so TV was just a small part of our leisure time. That early reading became a habit too. A good family TV event was watching Wayne & Shuster comedy specials together, with popcorn made by Dad. Other times we viewed slides of earlier years and of our trips. Much anticipated was parents' night at school, where Mom's good recall was especially entertaining, so we could hear the praise or odd funny comments from various teachers. Our Hallowe'en costumes were generally improvised with whatever was on hand, with her help & encouragement. Our birthday parties included elaborate homemade cakes, and I remember a large-ish group for Megan's & my joint birthday on Pim St. with “birds nests” made of chocolate and coconut for everybody, and organized games. One of the best times was Easter morning when we could rely on a treasure hunt with a chain of clever clues she had thought up. She hosted many many Christmas gatherings with all of us, and our kids, and John & Ken (Alan's brothers) over the years. The food was great, and Christmas cookies were plentiful. I miss those almond shortbreads! When we were in elementary school our teachers would receive a Christmas gift of her famous cranberry loaf. Holidays were truly celebrated at our house.

Marilyn was always interested in current events, and formed strong opinions of her own about them. Water fluoridation was an early issue that she got involved in. Other volunteer work included teaching literacy skills to adults and continuing to help with many Church projects and social gatherings. For years she assisted Algoma Public Health at their fall flu vaccination clinics. She gave very generously to many charities, and made sure each grandchild (Sheisha, Avi, & Keshev Kulkarni, and Eric Guier) had an education fund to help with, or in Eric's case pretty nearly completely cover his university expenses.

If you loved puns & wordplay, she was the one to pay attention to. At the funeral visitation more than one person mentioned her “zingers”. “She didn't talk a lot, but when she did it was definitely worth listening to” was one comment. The jokes were deadpan, easy to miss “very situational” spur of the moment wit. When we had to do speeches in school Mom would patiently assist us in finding just the right turn of phrase and would listen to us practice over and over, suggesting ways to improve our delivery with a gesture or verbal emphasis.

Up until about age 82 (the age her mother died) her health was pretty good. After that she had one problem after another, endured with patience and courage. A hip replacement, a (successful) bout with cancer, back trouble, and worst of all, incidents of stroke impaired her mobility quite a bit, and made it very difficult to speak and even read. Jigsaw puzzles and Sudoku helped occupy her time; she had been an expert Sudoku player and was also good at word scrambles, using these activities to help rebuild her skills after the strokes. Her enthusiastic Blue Jays baseball fandom was another source of enjoyment. In her childhood she had attended local baseball games with her father Wilfrid and brother Bob, back when the Toronto team was called the Maple Leafs, so this had been a long term interest also. Her favourite treats were Turkish Delight, anything with ginger, and Almond Bark. Desserts with whipped cream were also still high on the list.

Although she worked in a hospital for several years, Mom had no desire to spend time in one as a patient. Thanks to Alan taking on the household chores he never used to have added to the ones he normally did , he was able to provide her daily care so that she was able to end her days peacefully at home on June 19th, 2023.

Life Lessons from Mom, through words and/or example:

Be dependable, if it's your job then you'd better do it, and not in a sloppy way either! People are counting on you.

Finish what you start, maybe you are getting tired of the music lessons you asked for, but at least pass your grade 8, then decide.

Use your head, look at the evidence.

Don't complain, unless it would accomplish something.

Look for the humour, appreciate it.

Be generous, be hospitable, there's a lot of satisfaction in that.

Be determined. Maybe something doesn't appear to be working but if you keep plugging away, most of the time you can win through.

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Memorial Service

by the Reverend Phillip D. Miller

June 27, 2023

Hymn – What a Friend We Have in Jesus

Since its first release in 1984 the words of Canadian singer/songwriter Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah in a remarkable work called The Promise have been covered by over three hundred artists. There is a wonderful summation that is offered by the singer on his life in that work:

“I did my best, it wasn't much

I couldn't feel, so I tried to touch

I told the truth; I didn't come to fool you

And even though it all went wrong

I'll stand before the Lord of Song with nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah.”

As we gather here to remember Marilyn and give thanks for her wonderful life these words seem to me to be somehow appropriate; “I did my best ... I tried ... I told the truth; I didn't come to fool you. ... I'll stand before the Lord of Song” Indeed those words describe Marilyn and more than that, they speak of our faith and our hope for her as she stands this day before the Lord of song, the Lord of life, her Lord and our Lord.

It is to that Lord whom we bring ourselves today to give thanks for Marilyn's humble life, her uniqueness and the plethora of memories, to return her over to our God to be welcomed and to be blessed into the eternal kingdom until that day when we join her there. Let us join our hearts together, let us pray:

Eternal God from whom we have come and to whom we return and before whose face pass all the generations, whose wisdom and mercy is our future, we bow before your greatness and we thank you for the life of Marilyn in whose memory we are met. Reward her goodness, be merciful with her shortcomings for we commit her care to you thanking you for all she has been to each who love her in their own special way, thanks be to you oh God. Amen

When our world is turned upside down and the foundations of our life are shaken, we turn to those things that are familiar and find strength, comfort, peace. As people of faith we turn to the pages of Scripture. There we hear the voice of almighty God speaking to us personal, powerful words. In the Book of Psalms are these, and you are welcome to join with me in saying them:

The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want

He makes me to lie down in green pastures

and leads me beside still waters

He restores my soul.

He leads me in paths of righteousness

for His name's sake.

Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I fear no evil; for thou art with me, thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me

in the presence of my enemies;

Thou anointest my head with oil and my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life

and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

(Psalm 23)

Thousands of years ago the writer and prophet Micah envisioned the reality of each of us called someday to appear before our Lord and give an accounting of ourselves. It's not a matter of what we have, what we've accumulated but how we have lived that really is important. And so to this end the prophet Micah wrote these words:

“With what shall I come before the Lord and bow myself before the high God. Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has shown you O man what is good. And what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”

(Micah 6:6-8)

And amid all the voices that speak to us at a time like this we hear the voice of our God speaking to us:

“ 'Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God. Believe also in Me. In my Father's house are many mansions. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And when I go and prepare a place for you I will come again and take you Myself, that where I am, you may be also, and you know the way where I am going.' Thomas said to him, 'Lord, We do not know where you are going, how can we know the way?' And Jesus said to him, 'I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father but by me. I will not leave you desolate; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me; because I live, you will live also. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.' “

God's word to us this day.

Now I invite the family to come and share some memories with us.

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Richard Sloan – Pay Attention

Before we start today I'd like to thank you all for coming here, or online, or to the visitation prior. Your thoughts and stories about Mom have been very good for us at a difficult time and we appreciate it.

When I try to put together a few words about Mom, it's quite difficult because she was never one to be the centre of attention, so what she would teach us and how she would act, you would have to be paying attention. It was so important.

Even from the beginning, at a very young age you would see she was paying attention, dedicated to the family. For me as a young boy, in Beavers of Canada she would be there, she would volunteer to help out and assist with lessons and games, crafts, all the different things that were going on despite the countless part time jobs that added up to more than a full time occupation, plus taking care of the family, but she was dedicated and paying attention.

Then, as I went to elementary school she would help me with my writing, with composition, with speaking, that it was so important to pay attention to your subject, to pay attention to your audience as they give you feedback it's all coming together in the way that if you listen, if you pay attention to your subject, you can get your message across and people will understand and appreciate what you're trying to tell them.

And then as I grew up through elementary school I realized how much you had to pay attention to what she was saying because she had an incredible sense of humour. I never really understood the concept of a Dad joke, because Mom had the best puns. It was incredible how she could take something be it an entire conversation or even possibly weeks of debate on some sort of current issue and just have a perfect line that would just sum it up. Really there were so many you can't remember every one of them, but every time it was the perfect little saying, just the right words to put together.

All through school she taught us to pay attention to finances. You've got to think about university, funding your education, moving forward, taking from every little job you have and setting aside half for your future and half for now. If you get any tips that you can save even more to be ready for the future.

And then when I got to university, entered my first year of Engineering, we would talk about how in our year it was 10% women in the class. I thought to myself 'that's a great accomplishment' but as a pharmacist 40 years ago she was doing this. She never made an issue of it, never said it was anything out of the ordinary; we didn't know any better, you had to be paying attention, because there she was, off doing her thing, doing things that were out of the ordinary without any fanfare.

As I was finishing school looking for work she started saying “Pay attention to news articles, it can give you different ideas about what you want to do, companies that you might want to apply to, you'll have something to talk about doing interviews and it will help you to make your decisions as you go forward”.

Once I was done with school I saw just how much time she was dedicating to others, working for church groups, volunteering, teaching literacy and English as a second language. She taught us all to read at a young age and I'm sure she was picking back up on that. She was always giving of her time.

So we can try to follow her example, do the best we can, because one thing is for sure, she paid attention!

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Sheisha Kulkarni – My “Unexceptional” Grandmum

I don’t think Grandmum would ever have described herself as “exceptional” - in fact she rarely talked about herself, and was not one to ever mention her own accomplishments. So let me say a few words about what she would likely have described as an “unexceptional” life. This is a life that included her successful career, raising four children (including making them handmade games), lifetime volunteering in the church community, and (much appreciated) generous personal and financial support to her grandchildren’s education

She made it seem completely normal that all these things were perfectly achievable. Watching my grandmother, the two women that had the biggest impact on my life saw her example and thought it was completely normal to be able to balance these things. They ended up with successful careers in the military and as an actuary, both extremely male-dominated careers.

What’s it like to be a woman in a male-dominated career? I’d like to share a little bit what that feels like. You quickly appreciate the importance of counting. On bad days, its zero. On good days it might be five or ten. What am I counting? The number of people that look like me in a room. There were 26 female students in Grandmum’s class of 100. Which was remarkably high for that time, given how recently women had been allowed to enroll in Pharmacy at all. She earned the George A Evans medal for pharmaceutical chemistry and the Lieutenant George R Parke medals for the highest marks in second and third year

While her children were small, she worked part-time as a pharmacist – and part-time I’ve recently learned meant several part-time jobs in different pharmacies often adding up to more than full time hours – while at the time it was the norm for mothers to stay home. I asked her and members of her family if she ever experienced any negativity from this - men complaining that she shouldn’t have been ‘taking a spot’ in the pharmacy program from a ‘more deserving’ male student, or moms making comments about not being home with her kids, people wanting to talk to the ‘real’ pharmacist – but the overwhelming response I received was “oh no, not really, she never mentioned it”

Balancing a challenging career and a family seemed like a perfectly normal and unexceptional thing to do – or so I thought, until I tried following my grandmother’s footsteps myself. Based on my experience the lack of sexist obstacles or stories are less likely attributable to the enlightened nature of her classmates, clients etc and more due to her absolutely unflappable nature. Those comments just wouldn’t have phased her at all and she would have absolutely given them the zero weight they deserved. And raising four kids? I have staring contests with my dirty dishes at the end of the night and I lose more often than I win! (in my defense, they outnumber me)

What I now realize is that my grandmother made the exceptional unexceptional. By being an unflappable woman in the classroom and her career, she made space for extremely flappable women like me. By normalizing a career and family, generations of women were able to succeed in challenging careers while allowing for my existence. Anne Marie Slaughter said you can’t have it all. She clearly never met Marilyn Sloan!

So, Grandmum, if you ever were counting, there was only ever one person like you in any room you were in

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Music – Come, Let Us Sing of a Wonderful Love

Meditation

There may be another couple who have been members of St. Andrew's longer, who were born into the church congregation, but as I have thought about it, none come to mind. Just before Christmas, on the 10th of December, 1961, Alan and Marilyn, along with a couple of dozen others, were welcomed into the fellowship of our congregation, promising to serve the Lord with their gifts, talents and their lives. And for more than six decades, they have done exactly that. The church has been their home. Whether it was a congregational or group activity or as simple as being present a worship, you could count on the Sloans.

They had been around the church for a quarter of a century by the time I got here. And from my perspective as clergy, it became pretty obvious who the folks were that you could count on to be there, to be supportive, to do what needed doing, without a lot of fanfare or fuss. Steady as the day is long.

If we were to make a list of the places Marilyn's hands have touched the life of St. Andrew's, I think I would begin by pointing to her U.C.W. Unit 5. What a force to be reckoned with that group was in its prime. When the vision of an elevator came, they got together to bake pies to support the ongoing needs. How many thousands of pies did that group produce, literally, only the Lord knows, but there every time was Marilyn doing her bit and enjoying the fellowship.

When I think of the mission of the Church, I think of her long time membership on the Mission and Service Committee. The Minutes for Mission that she shared with us every month. The new and fresh bulletin boards she created every month. The leadership and example she set for us was such that one day, I got a letter from the Moderator of the United Church in the early 90s. Now, it wasn't that often you got an actual letter from the Moderator. Most of the time, it was form letters which had been duplicated. But this letter was actually a letterhead, actual signature, personal letter from the Moderator. While I don't remember the Moderator, what I do remember is the content of the letter. It was to the whole congregation of St. Andrew's praising their support of the Mission and Service Fund. We were Number One in the Presbyter, Number Four in the whole of London Conference (which was about 280 congregations at the time) and in the top 100 for the whole nation. I credit Marilyn's witness and leadership with that achievement of the congregation. In her quiet, humble way, she led us to set our feet on lofty places.

The list goes on to Pancake Suppers, Church Bazaars, welcoming, counting the weekly offering, and Elder, being part of study groups, serving communion and hosting coffee and the list goes on and on. And she did all this gladly, cheerfully, faithfully and with her wonderful wit and wisdom which I admired greatly.

Her faith which had sustained her through all the vagaries of life over more than eight decades would sustain her in the time that lay before her – however long that might be -as her health challenges of the recent years offered. She would go forward, confident in her faith, courageous in her hope and encouraged by the love she felt. In God was her trust and that was enough. A simple woman with a simple faith, she has given us an example of what it means to put her hand in the hand of God for her walk in this life and the next.

And now, with love in our broken hearts and minds full of memories, we turn her care and keeping over to Almighty God, thanking God for all she has been to us, and for the peace she knows in eternal live.

This is our faith. This is our hope. This is God's promise. Thanks be to God. Amen.

Prayer of Thanksgiving

Father of all mercies and God of all comfort, who is the author of life on both sides of death: we cast our cares upon You. We do not always understand why things happen the way they do or why they happen at the time they do. We do, however know that you love us and through all of life, we trust in You. We are thankful that you have given the gift of life eternal in your Holy Kingdom.

We lift up before you today the name of Marilyn. In the midst of our grief, we thank you for your eternal home, the kingdom of heaven, where you have received her and blessed her. We give thanks for the many ways she shared her life with us and with others in simple fashion. Like the colourful flowers that surround us in this season, Marilyn was unique and a work of your creative nature in her soul. Her memory is precious to us. We thank you that nothing can rob us of the happy times and memories and we turn her over to you in the faith that some day we shall be united again in your heavenly home.

Dear God, we pray for ourselves and for the limited resources we have to deal with such grief as has invaded our lives now. Help us amid all of the trials and tribulations of our earthly life to keep within us the spirit of little children, knowing that you love a childlike faith. As the Psalmist has said, our help comes from you, O God. You will provide us with the strength, wisdom, comfort and peace that only you can give.

Spirit of the living God, walk among us this day. Sustain this family, Alan, Megan, Andrea, Glenda and Richard, her brother and the friends who are like family and all of those who knew and loved Marilyn, with your love. Grant to them peace within to turn her to your care. Bind up the wounds of all who are hurting under the pain and strain of death this day. May all your people everywhere grow to trust in your love and calmly and confidently place their hands in yours for each day of their walk in this life and in the life to come.

Hear us now as we pray together saying the words your Son taught his disciples to pray:

Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

Benediction

May the guidance of friendship and the solace of prayer give you strength in your sorrow, and may the joy of memories and the promise of God's peace comfort you in the days ahead.

Go now with the blessing of God, Father Son and holy Spirit, this day and always.

Amen.

Special Music -Somewhere, My Love

____________________________________________________________________

Megan Kulkarni (Sloan)

Just a Few Words More

I just want to tell you

What a gift it was

Just to be with you

To laugh together at little things

To see your eyes be happy

Though always so determined

Those tougher-than-tough puzzles

You would never give up on,

And after all the things you’ve done

In those last two hard years

You said you woke up every day

Wondering how to do things better

Couldn’t there have been

Just one last summer together, but

You were never, after all, late for anything

And in one early dawn

When the first birds sang

Perhaps there was a window open of love and possibility

And you rose up and became the morning

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Condolences from sootoday.com

bikerider2 Jun 23, 2023 6:56 PM

Alan and family….so sorry to read about Marilyn. A lovely, friendly lady. Every Sunday she always greeted you with a smile and a hello. Alan, please take care of yourself. John & Carol Ross (. St. Andrews)

KenRob Jun 23, 2023 9:38 PM

Alan and Family so sorry for the loss of Marilyn. Marilyn was my Sunday School Teacher many year’s ago. Marilyn will be missed by many. Ken and Jen Fleming

MYERSSusan Jun 23, 2023 10:35 PM

Mr and Mrs Sloan were part of my childhood at St Andrew’s. So faithful in their presence and I always remember Mrs Sloan’s burden for Missions. She was a humble and modest lady and I know has now heard the voice of her Saviour saying “welcome home Marilyn, my good and faithful servant”. God bless Mr Sloan and all of the family, may you know God’s Comfort in your grief. Susan.

BCWAR Jun 24, 2023 4:27 AM

Alan and Family

So sorry to read about the passing of Marilyn. She was such an active person in the Community and at St. Andrew’s. We are all thinking of you and support you as you go through these difficult times.

LAP Jun 24, 2023 12:56 PM

Condolences to Alan and Marilyn's children and grandchildren. Having lived on Queen Street for 50 years, we were accustomed to have Marilyn pass by with her lovely, shy smile and hello. Thank you for sharing the photos which capture her quiet beauty so perfectly.

Lee Ann and John Pearson and family.

lucci11 Jun 26, 2023 4:29 PM

Sorry for your loss. I remember Marilyn well when she was a tutor literacy volunteer at Program Read...I was assistant coordinator at the time. Very kind woman.

Lucille Carson

Tina Bowen Jun 26, 2023 7:33 PM

Very sorry for the families loss. My condolences.

Tina @ Hiawatha

* * * * * * * * * *

SLOAN, Marilyn Louise Sloan (nee Field) - Sept. 11 1934 – June 19 2023

Died peacefully at home aged 88, survived by her beloved husband & companion of 67 years, W. Alan Sloan, and children Glenda Sloan (Wolfgang Guier), Megan Kulkarni (late Amit), Andrea Sloan and Richard Sloan. Also survived by her dear brother Robert (Bob) Field (Carol) of King City ON., grandchildren Sheisha Kulkarni (Zac Irving), Avinash Kulkarni, Keshev Kulkarni and Eric Guier, and by many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents Wilfrid Field and Gertrude Frances Field (Collard), and brothers Dennis and Neil Field.

From a very young age she chose pharmacy as a career, and graduated from the University of Toronto in 1956 with 2 gold medals for academic excellence, moving to the Sault in 1961. Hardworking and charitable, she served the people of Sault Ste. Marie for many years as a pharmacist, and after retirement volunteered as a literacy teacher for Program Read, at Rebound North and at the Algoma Public Health flu shot clinic. She was very active at St. Andrew's United Church. She touched many lives and will be greatly missed.

Family and friends are invited to visit at Arthur Funeral Home - Barton & Kiteley Chapel (492 Wellington St. East, 705-759-2522) on Tuesday, June 27, 2023 from 10:30 am until 12:30 pm. Funeral service to follow in the chapel at 1 pm. Rev. Phil Miller officiating. Everyone is invited to view the service online starting at 1:00 pm Tuesday, June 27, 2023 and can be viewed anytime up to 90 days, go to www.funeraweb.tv and select Marilyn's name. Memorial donations (payable by check or online) made to the United Way of Sault Ste. Marie, Heart & Stroke Foundation or St. Andrew's United Church would be appreciated by the family.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.arthurfuneralhome.com for the Sloan family.