It is with sadness that we announce the peaceful passing of Marilyn Kan, on September 22nd, 2022 in Victoria, BC. Marilyn approached the end of her life, as she lived most of it, in her Birkenstocks, steadfastly true to her values, and with an unexpected sense of humour that could make you burst with laughter.
Beatrice “Marilyn” Kan (nee Leslie) was born on November 2nd, 1938 in Calgary, Alberta to Joseph Powell Leslie and Dorothy Beatrice Leslie (nee Chennells). A bright, principled and adventurous woman from the start, Marilyn quickly combined her education with her love of travel. Her B.Sc in Home Economics & Nutrition and M.Sc in Clinical Chemistry from University of Alberta, allowed her to utilize her studies and her skills to work in Montreal General Hospital, Saskatchewan Department of Public Health in Swift Current, Hammersmith Hospital in London, England, University of Alberta Hospital in Edmonton and BCIT in Vancouver.
During a summer work camp for students in 1958 at the Weyburn Saskatchewan Hospital, while participating with the Student Christian Movement, Marilyn met, Yau Hang Kan, or Kan, as most knew him. They travelled widely together, and ultimately married on July 2nd, 1969. Together, they lived an active life, sailing the West Coast, travelling in their orange Kombi campervan with their folding double kayak, and ultimately building their B&B home in Jasper National Park. After Kan’s sudden passing in 1981, Marilyn remained in Jasper enjoying various mountain pursuits, and travelling the world widely with friends, and through her involvement with various university tours and Elderhostel.
In 2004, Marilyn traded in the Rocky Mountains for the Pacific Ocean, moving to her apartment in James Bay, Victoria, BC. It is here that she became an extremely avid cyclist, and an active observer and participant in the community, whether through public engagement, university lectures, church involvement or her neighbouring seniors activity centre.
Marilyn was predeceased by her mother and father, Dorothy and Joesph Leslie; her husband Kan; and her much loved younger sister and sometimes sisterly rival, Joan Teghtmeyer. She is survived by her younger brother Howard Leslie; her brother-in-law, Melvin Teghtmeyer; her nieces and nephew, Cara Schmidt (Steve), Kipp Teghtmeyer (Nancy) and Tara Teghtmeyer; and her grand nieces Alida and Kayla Teghtmeyer.
Marilyn will leave us with a lifetime of memories including: her unrivalled Scrabble domination; her hysterically memorable Christmas gift exchanges; her relentless love of cycling, undeterred by her numerous spills and broken bones; her inexhaustible ability to walk for hours on end; her love of music, specifically classical and opera; her numerous passports packed full of stamps of her world travels; and a remarkable history of philanthropic donations to some of her most beloved causes: environmental protection; educational bursaries; indigenous law and culture; housing for the disadvantaged; and supporting women and children in crisis.
PS - Dear Auntie Marilyn, as promised, we took the compost out. Love you forever.
Marilyn’s Celebration of life will be hosted by Peter Scales from the Capital Unitarian Universalist Congregation on Zoom at 2pm PST on October 30, 2022. If you would like to attend please copy and paste the information below.
Zoom link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82363657163?pwd=SGJMQmZ4em1QS0dHR05veVlaTWE0dz09
Meeting ID: 823 6365 7163
Passcode: 234234234
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