Marilyn G (Fraser) Giesbrecht

It is with great sorrow and sadness that the family of Marilyn Giesbrecht (nee Fraser) of Lacombe, AB wishes to announce her passing on December 6, 2023 at the age of 71 at the Lacombe Hospital palliative care unit after a difficult battle with cancer.

Marilyn is survived by her loving husband of 53 years, Don Giesbrecht, her daughter Christie Giesbrecht (Travis Musseau), son Scott Giesbrecht, and her sister Donna Fraser (Michael Klein), as well as numerous extended family (in-laws and outlaws) and a number of special friends, old and new, that she met throughout her various life’s journeys.

Marilyn was predeceased by her parents Russell and Mavis Fraser and her brother Robert Fraser.

Marilyn was born at the Lacombe Hospital on June 25, 1952 to Russell and Mavis Fraser. She lived in Blackfalds for the majority of her childhood, and attended high school at the Lacombe Composite High. While attending 10th grade, Marilyn met Don (a farm boy from Clive) through her childhood best friend, and they started dating - with much protest from her mother, Mavis. However, it was not long until Mavis came around to Don's amiable personality. After dating for 3 years, and shortly after her high school graduation in June, they tied the knot on July 18, 1970.

They lived in various places until settling on the farm outside of Clive where they raised cattle and hogs for a decade. It was here that they welcomed Christie and Scott to their family in 1979 and 1981, respectively. Farming was tough during that time and with a market collapse they were unable to stay on the farm and moved the family to Lacombe. In the late 80's, Marilyn got a job at the Lacombe Hospital in administration where she worked at the front desk. She was often the first person you would see, greeting you with a big smile and her striking blue eyes; features that were recognizable right away to folks who knew her and those that didn't, but would see her frequently at that front desk. She retired from her position in 2017 after 30 years.

In 1986, Don and Marilyn bought their house in Lacombe, but they never intended to stay there permanently. However, as they started to do extensive work on the yard and the house, it became evident that this would be their forever home. The biggest transformation to happen here was the yard. It became a work of passion and it showed. Every spring was a trip to the greenhouse for flowers to adorn the planters and various flower beds around the yard. Marilyn spent hours tending to these planters and flower beds, creating a spectacular landscape of color and texture and beauty. The yard was her sanctuary and every morning that was free (and warm) was spent enjoying the quiet of the morning, sipping coffee, and watching the sunrise over the beautiful garden and listening to the sound of trickling water from the pond.

In addition to her passion for flowers and gardening, she loved to watch the various birds that would visit their garden and she would learn about the best way to feed and welcome them. Hummingbirds quickly became her favorite, but try as she might, she never had much luck coaxing them to her feeders and flowers; she could only ever illicit a short stay from the elusive birds. Regardless, she still found much enjoyment from the wrens, chickadees, and flickers that would come - and found a second favorite in the cedar waxwings who would discover the fountain and pond, putting on a show with their splashing and fluffing up their feathers, which Marilyn referred to as having a "bad hair day."

While Marilyn enjoyed spending much of her time at home, in the garden, she also loved to travel. The Pine Bungalows in Jasper, nestled in the Rocky Mountains, were a favorite destination for at least a decade; two or three trips were made there each year. Sea Ranch in California was another special place where they would meet up with Donna and Michael to watch the ocean, taking in the scenic bluffs and the sunset over the water - but only if the fog allowed. Various other road trips were made through the Western states from Oregon to California, as well as tours around the Four Corners of Arizona, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico, to name just a few of the destinations between Canada and the United States.

When it came to friends and family, Marilyn made a point of remembering significant dates and events, as well as paying special attention to various interests that people had. She would always ask about these interests, or follow up with people out of a genuine care and curiosity about their lives. She approached everything from her own pastimes and hobbies to her connections with other people with an attention to detail and a penchant for learning. Marilyn will be dearly missed by everyone that knew her.

We would like to add this special note about Sorrentino's Compassion House Foundation in Edmonton, Alberta where Marilyn stayed while receiving radiation and chemo treatments for her cancer. They are a safe "home away from home" for women needing cancer treatments, providing amenities and accommodations as well as a network of volunteers and resources to help with transportation and other services. It was here that Marilyn made connections with new friends and could find comfort without worrying about the travelling and costs associated with treatments. In lieu of flowers, we would urge you to consider making a donation to this foundation as it was indispensable and held a special place in Marilyn's heart throughout this journey. We would also like to send a special thank you to Dr. Unger as well as the nurses and staff at the Lacombe Hospital Palliative Care Unit for their expertise, support and assistance. (Sorrentino's Compassion House Foundation: https://www.compassionhouse.org/)

There will be a Celebration of Life for Marilyn at the Lacombe Kozy Korner, on Sunday, December 17th from 2 to 4 pm, for family and friends to gather and offer comfort.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Marilyn G (Fraser) Giesbrecht, please visit our floral store.