Obituary of Marie McIntosh

Marie McIntosh (nee Smygora) passed away peacefully on August 22, 2020 in Cranbrook, B.C.

Marie was born in Lemberg, Saskatchewan on February 23, 1925 to Peter and Katherine Smygora. Baking and cooking were great loves of hers. Once she had perfected a recipe, it would be typed out and then into her filing system it went.  She hosted many fabulous dinners for family and friends, and always made sure there was enough, so they had a care package to take home.   Most of her life, she grew an incredible garden. She loved animals and always had cats or dogs, until the last few years.   Strays seemed to find their way to Marie’s house. We think they knew she would always take them in. She started having them spayed in the 50s.

Marie left home during the war and went to the Lakehead in Ontario (Fort William & Port Arthur, now Thunder Bay) to work for Canada Car. She built airplanes for the war, receiving many commendations for her excellent work.  Then worked at McKellar Hospital as a nurses’ aide.   Growing up in the Prairies with hard-working parents taught her to work hard and to be careful with money. She could budget better than anyone we ever met.

Her two children were born in Port Arthur – Ken in 1947 and Donna in 1949. She moved to Transcona (Winnipeg) with her first husband and the kids in 1950 and lived there most of her life.

Always striving for a better life, Marie taught herself to type so she could get a better job with CN Rail. Once there, she worked her way up to be a Payroll Clerk. There was not a boss who did not appreciate her work ethic. She always taught us to follow the rules, keep goodness in your heart, have respect for others and work hard.

She enjoyed watching Bill, Ken, and Joyce play softball in Transcona and she was their biggest fan. 

After retirement, Marie and her second husband Bill moved to Cranbrook in 1992 so she could be closer to her daughter. She and Bill loved taking cruises and saw many beautiful places.

Marie was a dedicated friend and a very private person. She was unfortunately predeceased by many good friends over the years.

She leaves her son Ken (Joyce) Gale of Transcona; daughter Donna (Wayne) Butler of Cranbrook; grandchildren Carrie (Jim) Oliver of Grand Forks, ND, Derek (Kamilla) Gale of Transcona, Robyn Graham of Edmonton and Bradley (Chelsea Hermus) Letain of Victoria; great-grandkids Samantha (Morgan) Allison of Gull Lake, Luke, Cole and Liam and their mother Laurie Letain of Provost, Alexander Olivier, Kensington and Dallin Graham and Elijah Gale (and soon to be born sibling); great-great-granddaughter Marlow Allison; step-daughters Roberta; Rhonda (Ian) McIntosh and Andrea (Diane) Gall (who says Marie’s kindness saved her); and many nieces and nephews. Two special ones were Naomi (Greg) and Thomas (Stacey) Flavin, two of her sister Toni’s children, who will remember her for her goodness and always wanting to resolve something that was wrong.

She was predeceased by her parents, who both passed in 1956, baby sister, Katrina (1923), her sister Toni (1986), her husband Bill McIntosh (2019) and her stepdaughter Samantha (1983).

Marie’s Celebration of Life will be held next summer when she will be buried next to her parents in Transcona.