Marilyn Elizabeth Underhill

It is with great sadness that we, the family of Marilyn Elizabeth Underhill, announce she died peacefully at her home on March 19, 2025, at the age of 91. Marilyn was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend.

Marilyn was born in Edmonton in October 1933, the second of four children to Dorothy and Harling Rogerson. The family moved to Winnipeg in 1945 and then to Regina in 1949 where Marilyn met her future husband, Ted Underhill.

In Grade 12, Marilyn was selected to be one of 50 Canadian young women to visit England that summer on the Weston British Tour sponsored by Garfield Weston where she met the Queen Mother amongst others. Marilyn made many friends on this trip and remained in yearly communication with them until her death.

Marilyn graduated from the University of Saskatchewan with a BA (sciences) in 1954, and she and Ted were married later that summer. Marilyn worked as a lab tech at the University Hospital in Saskatoon until the arrival of Beth in 1956, after which the family moved to Rhode Island where Ted obtained his Ph.D. While in Rhode Island, their second child, Jim, was born in 1958. The family then returned to Saskatoon, and not long after their return, their third child, John, was born in 1962.

Home in Saskatoon was on Kirk Crescent. There, friendships were made that have lasted a lifetime. In the mid 1970’s Marilyn returned to work outside of the home and taught labs in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Saskatchewan. It was here she affectionately received the nickname TOL (tough old lady) from her students. Her family has always thought the nickname was appropriate as Marilyn demonstrated a profound inner strength until the day she died.

In 1991, Marilyn and Ted retired and moved to Victoria where they spent 28 years. In 2019, they moved to Edmonton to be closer to family support. After Ted’s death, Marilyn moved to Calgary in 2021. By this time, dementia had begun to take her memory. While Marilyn’s memory continued to disappear, she retained her sense of humour, social graces and her love of giving kisses and hugs to everyone until the end.

Marilyn and Ted were a tremendous team, demonstrating unconditional love and devotion to each other. In addition, they were always game to learn or try something new; they lived life to the fullest. Whether circumnavigating Vancouver Island on their sailboat, the Two Ewes, skiing, hiking and camping with their children and grandchildren (moving from tent to camper van over the years) or travelling the world on various cruises, Marilyn and Ted instilled this same sense of adventure in their family. Friends were also important to Marilyn and Ted whether they were old friends from Saskatchewan or new friends they made in Victoria or through their travels. Marilyn was famous for turning strangers into friends through the briefest of encounters, routinely inviting those lucky enough over for lunches and dinners. Marilyn was an excellent hostess, and her children and grandchildren continue to enjoy all her recipes to this day – well maybe not her Emerald Jello Salad!

Marilyn was the consummate caregiver. She cared for Ted their entire married life as he was a Type 1 diabetic from the age of 13. Ted often said he lived as long as he did due to Marilyn. Marilyn extended this same great care to her children, their spouses, her children’s friends, her grandchildren, and her great grandchildren, who were always keen to share an ice cream bar with Great Grandma Marilyn.

Marilyn is survived by her daughter Beth and son-in-law Terry Hughes; her son John and daughter-in-law Laurel Underhill; former daughter-in-law Wanda Underhill; grandchildren Catie and her husband Devin O’Neal, Claire and her husband Michael Wyant, Ted Underhill, Emily Underhill and her husband Joe Daignault, Hannah Underhill, Jack Underhill, Eva Underhill and William Underhill; and great grandchildren Theodore Wyant, Scarlett Wyant, Poppy O’Neal, and Olivia Wyant. Marilyn is also survived by her sister Barbara and brother-in-law Bryan Sharpe, brother Bill and sister-in-law Lynda Rogerson, and nieces and nephews in BC, Alberta, Ontario, Texas and Mexico. Marilyn was predeceased by her son Jim in 2009, her sister Arden Sauve in 2016, and her husband Ted in 2019.

The family would like to express their deep gratitude to Marilyn’s companions from Beyond Neighbours, especially her “gems” Miranda and Hannah, all the staff of the Staywell Manor Village, where Marilyn lived for the past four years, and her doctor, Dr. M. Geoghegan.

In accordance with Marilyn’s wishes, a private family gathering will be held at a later date. If friends so desire, memorial tributes in Marilyn’s memory may be made directly to the Hotchkiss Brain Institute, HBI Brain and Mental Health Research Teams, Dementia & Cognitive Disorder, https://hbi.ucalgary.ca/donate or a charity of your choice.