Marion Rosalyn Maynard (nee Dyer)
Passed away peacefully on December 26, 2024, at Grand River Hospital in Kitchener, Ontario in her 90th year.
Cherished mother of Wendy, John (Debora) and Tannis.
Proud grandmother of Leigh Stewart (Iris), Bryn Ludlow, Corey Stewart, Jodi Maynard, Oliver Maynard-Langedijk (Bobby Bowen), Megan Guerra (Alex), Danielle Gordon, Emmet Maynard-Langedijk (Francheska Keefe) and Haley Maynard (Ryan Isabella).
Devoted great-grandmother of Angela Gomez, Elysia Maynard-Langedijk, Silas Maynard-Langedijk, Theo Stewart and Luca Guerra.
Dear sister of Shirley Last and Bob Dyer.
Predeceased by her beloved husband John (2019), her parents Norman and Hulda Dyer, her brothers Norman and Donald and her sister Betty Ann.
Marion was born in Delta, Ontario, the second youngest of six children. She studied nursing at Vancouver General Hospital in Vancouver, B.C., where she met, and in 1958 married her best friend, John Maynard. They began their married lives in Prince Rupert B.C. where Wendy was born, moved on to Kamloops B.C. where John (Jay) was born and then Vernon B.C. where Tannis was born. Marion considered it a privilege to be a full-time wife and mother during which she joined various service organizations, volunteered, entertained, took various art-related courses and played bridge. Skiing, tennis and golf kept her active during the first 11 years of their marriage. As a successful and popular hospital administrator, John was in demand. Their next moves took them to Ontario, first Timmins, then Ancaster, then Toronto. During their stays in these three communities, Marion developed a fascination for Japanese pottery ultimately obtaining a diploma in Plastic and Fine Art from Mohawk College in Hamilton. She was instrumental in the creation of the Hamilton Guild of Potters. When the family moved to Toronto she studied Design/Creativity and Innovation at the Ontario College of Art, and she sat on the boards of the Canadian Craft Council and Canadian Guild of Potters. In Toronto she set up a pottery studio called Studio Hands where she taught adults and children, ran workshops and became a production potter while also helping to establish the Toronto Potters Guild, serving as their first president in 1979. Their next move was north of Toronto in King Township to Pottageville where she set up a large pottery studio and showroom and resumed teaching and production. This phase of her then 16-year-long career as a “Master Potter” ended abruptly after a fall that injured both of her shoulders. She pivoted again in 1983, once she was accepted into the University of Guelph where she completed a Bachelor of Applied Science (Honours) program focusing on gerontology, business and housing for seniors. She and John lived in Guelph for 20 years, jointly running a consulting firm specializing in housing and health care for seniors. In 1990 Marion, John and their son Jay established a building measurement business that Jay continues to run. In 2001, Marion and John semi-retired to one of their favourite retirement villages in Port Rowan on Lake Erie where they stayed for four years until they moved one last time to Cambridge Ontario to be near family.
In Cambridge, Marion enjoyed an active life ensuring that both her and her husband’s health was best managed while continuing to participate in Beta Sigma Phi International, the local Art Attic fundraiser event and Trinity Anglican Church. She played bridge, created beautiful quilts and enjoyed treasured time with her extended family.
Cremation has taken place and a Celebration of Life will be held at Trinity Anglican Church, 12 Blair Road, Cambridge Ontario on January 11th at 1pm, with a potluck gathering at 4:30 pm at 37 Powell Street in Guelph, Ontario.
Instead of flowers, donations made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation would be appreciated by the family.
Messages and condolences may be left at www.tricitycremations.com. Please visit Marion’s obituary notice on Facebook.