Marlene Yvonne Harrison

Born in Montreal, Marlene was the eldest of six children to Georgina & Serge Bertrand. Being the eldest, Marlene was very dear to her siblings Danny, John, Keith, Linda & Marianne.

Marlene attended Thomas D’Arcy McGee high school in Montreal where she learned to speak both English and French fluently. Typical of the time, Marlene graduated at sixteen from high school and worked in a bank. This allowed her to travel through Europe and the world frequently. Marlene was very proud to have graduated from St. Mary’s Hospital. School of nursing ,also went to McGill in Montreal. During college Marlene made lifelong friendships with her nursing classmates, especially Claudia and Catherine, of whom she remained in close contact for over 60 years.

Upon graduation, Marlene practiced nursing where in 1974 she met Malcolm Harrison at a Rugby party in Edmonton. They later married in L’Orignal, Ontario, on December 20, 1976, and went on to have three sons: Scott, Mark, and Aaron, now married to Linda, Casey and Jocelyn respectively. Marlene is survived by her eight grandchildren Brooke, David, Isabelle David, Trevor, Evelyn, Claire, Evan & Khloe.

With a passion for travel, Marlene & Malcolm jumped at career opportunities here and overseas which allowed the family to live in Toronto, Ottawa and Edmonton, as well as South Africa and Germany. Unable to work in Germany due to visa restrictions, Marlene would bravely take her three young sons around Europe by train to see museums, arts and culture in cities like Rome, Vienna, Paris and Amsterdam while Malcolm travelled for work.

They later vacationed around the world in exotic places like Iceland, Fiji, Australia, New Zealand, Dubai, Argentina, Brazil and Namibia, among many others. Highly intelligent, wise and well read, Marlene was a formidable scrabble player to those who knew her. Especially her dear friend Sheila who would regularly visit, and her sisters Linda and Marianne of whom Marlene was very close. It is altogether fitting that someone who studied the Renaissance Era in college, would live and embody the life of a true renaissance woman: a person of wide ranges of lived experiences, knowledge, arts and passions.

The family is deeply grateful to her nursing care and the support Lori, Kennedy, Zarah, Dario, and Isabelle provided to Marlene and Malcolm at home during their final months together. And her wonderful neighbor Stuart who would selflessly help Marlene with household chores. The dedication and hard work of these people allowed Marlene and Malcolm to enjoy their final time together in a house they loved. Marlene joked she was forever in debt to her sister Marianne for introducing her to Korean drama television, which she adored.

Despite struggling with many illnesses throughout her life, Marlene braved it stoically with grace and charm. Through the grief, it should be viewed as poetic and romantic that Marlene and Malcolm, after 50 years of marriage, would pass within months of each other, to rejoin each other in eternity.

Marlene would wish that her friends, family and loved ones would meet in celebration of the life in a gathering at the house. If desired, donations in Marlene’s name may be made to the Arthritis Society of Canada or to any children’s charity.