Marie Evelyn Byrnes

The family of Marie Evelyn Byrnes, age 83 years of 927 Crowe Ave., Fort Frances, Ontario wish to announce with great sadness her passing on Saturday, March 19, 2011 after a brief illness of Pancytopenia.

Marie was born August 1, 1927 in Rainy River, Ontario to the late Roy and Lois Waldenberger. She was united in marriage on May 22, 1946 in Rainy River, Ontario to Garrett “Curly” Byrnes. They later moved to Fort Frances, Ontario to begin married life here and raise her family as a great stay at home mom. Marie was a member of St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church. She also was an avid stamp collector, and her other hobbies included her love of gardening, and caring for all types of animals that needed help. She took great pride in her early years attending a one room school house in Harris Hill (Spohn #2). She told many stories of her time going there and living through the Great Depression. She will be dearly missed by her family and friends.

Marie is survived by her three children, son, Ron Byrnes and wife Joan of Cobourg, ON., Shawne and husband Danny Crowe, and Arlene “Plum” Byrnes all of Fort Frances, ON. She is also survived by three grandchildren, Brent Crowe, Patrick Tryon and Denis Barnard Jr.; one sister, Viola Marchuk of Rainy River, ON., several nieces and nephews; and numerous friends.

She was predeceased by her husband, Garrett “Curly” Byrnes in 1994, and one brother, Elgin Waldenberger of Thunder Bay, ON.

Cremation has taken place at Rainy River Cremation Services in International Falls, Minnesota.

A celebration of Marie’s life will be held on Thursday, March 24, 2011 at 11 a.m. at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Fort Frances, Ontario with Father Francis Pudicherry officiating.

Interment will take place in Holy Cross Cemetery in Fort Frances, Ontario at a later date.

Honourary pallbearers will be Della Baraniuk, June Kowalchuk, Polly Basaraba and Jessie Kawulia. Should family and friends so desire, in memoriam donations may be made to the Alzheimers Society of Kenora / Rainy River District, Box 837, Kenora, ON., P9N 4B5, or in c/o Green Funeral Home, P.O. Box 427, Fort Frances, Ontario, P9A 3M8.

Online condolences may be made in care of greenfuneralhomefortfrances.com.