Following a lengthy illness, Marianne passed away peacefully at home on August 19, 2019. Beloved wife of the late John Dillon and loving mother to Timothy and Norah. Predeceased by parents Murray and Rose Cheetham, Marianne is mourned by her sister-in-law Margaret Ecker of Sarnia, siblings Fred (Lebby Lavelle) of Dundas, Martha Skladanek (Mike) of Towson, Maryland, Hugh (Colette Downie) of Ottawa and Sarah Visser (Bill) of Kingston, as well as several nephews and nieces in Sarnia, Dundas, Toronto, Kingston and Ottawa.
Dedicated to her profession as a nurse practitioner and strongly committed to helping the vulnerable and marginalized in our society and new immigrants, Marianne returned to Canada in the early 1980's after beginning her work in community care in India and Bhutan. For over 35 years she worked at the South Riverdale Community Health Centre, more recently splitting time at the Centre with work at the Red Door Family Shelter assisting families in need including refugee families. Marianne was devoted to addressing women’s health issues and played a significant role in the introduction of midwifery services in Ontario.
The family sincerely thanks Marianne’s palliative care team, Sharon Robertson and all the nurses from Living Assistance Services, and the medical staff on the 7th Floor of the Peter Munk Building at the Toronto General Hospital for their attentive care and professionalism during her illness. The family also thanks Marianne’s extensive network of friends and work colleagues whose visits, messages, letters and prayers provided great support during the past two years, which were full of challenges.
Visitation will take place at St. Ann Catholic Parish, 120 First Avenue, Toronto (entrance off Gerrard St) on Tuesday, September 3, 2019 from 3 to 4pm, followed by Funeral Mass, at 4pm.
In lieu of flowers, financial donations may be directed to:
The Red Door Shelter www.reddoorshelter.ca/ways-to-give
By telephone at 416-915-5671, ext 225 or by mail to
Development Office
21 Carlaw Avenue
Toronto, ON M4M 2R6
Cheques can be made payable to "Red Door Family Shelter". Tax receipts are provided for donations of $20 or more.
The Hayden Hall Project in Darjeeling, India
c/o Canadian Jesuits International
70 Saint Mary Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1J3
www.canadianjesuitsinternational.ca/projects/india-hayden-hall/
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