ANDREWS, Marion Yvonne (Jardine)
We the family of Marion Yvonne (Jardine) Andrews, June 26, 1950 sadly advise friends and family of Marion’s untimely passing at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital, August 19, 2018 at age 68.
Daughter of the late David and Irene (Lovell) Jardine, she spent her childhood in Leitches Creek and teenage years in Sydney Mines.
In the fall of 1970, when she and Frankie were first introduced on “the lot” in North Sydney, there began a lifelong relationship of love, commitment and respect for one another. Married in August 1972, they were seldom apart over all these years. They thoroughly enjoyed each other’s company, and together weathered the storms of life and remained steadfast devoted partners. Life may not always be fun, but it sure is interesting and unpredictable.
Survived by husband, Frankie; son, Aaron (Dr. Rebecca Korven); daughter, Junell (Mike Sidney) of Westmount and the sunbeams of her life, granddaughters, Clara Beth and Holly Mariann Andrews - Sidney. Also, by brother, Everett (Shirley) Jardine; sisters, Joan Kell, Phyllis (Bill) Walker, Betty Romard; many nieces, nephews and friends.
Predeceased by sisters, Shirley, Jean, Trudy and brother, Roland.
Marion worked at General Instruments and St. Elizabeth Hospital prior to settling in to raise her family. She volunteered at Robin Foote School Library and as girls basketball coach. As a wife, mother and grandmother she was a true role model. Marion was a faithful and true friend. Frankie called her his pretty woman and his one true love. Some very happy times of her life were spent in the kitchen teaching Aaron and Junell the art of cooking and baking, lots of laughing.
A cook, baker, seamstress and carpenter she and Frankie built their first home in Sydney Mines in 1972/73 and moved their young family to Westmount in 1980 and built their second home in 1981/82.
They built the cabin at Ross Ferry in 1979 and spent happy summers around campfires and boating on the lake. She really enjoyed watching lightning storms from the cabin deck until the storms made their way across the lake and rain forced her inside.
She and Frankie enjoyed many travels across Canada and numerous road trips south. Side trips to both coasts of Florida, Key West, the Carolinas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee and her favourite city to visit, Savannah Georgia (photo: eating pancakes in Savannah). While she was able, visits to Aaron and Junell’s homes were very special to her, welcoming and comfortable. She disliked leaving at the end of each visit.
Marion enjoyed laughing, good jokes and the company of family and friends. A loving, caring person in all respects, she could also be stubborn, uncompromising, tenacious and brutally honest. Things had to meet her very high standards. She would say: “We can do this better.”
Her last years were happy and exciting as she watched her granddaughters grow from infants to now 7 and 5 year old caring, beautiful, funny, thoughtful and loving little girls. Marion would beam when she heard them come in the house and loudly announce: “Grandmother, we’re here”. She insisted on being called Grandmother. Their affections for her are so strong she often compared it with the raising of Aaron and Junell and the reciprocated love shared with them during their childhoods and as adults. The spouses Aaron and Junell chose, she said could not have been more appropriate. Perfect partners. Watching the little ones in her pool was a favourite summer pastime. Pictures of Marion, Junell and Clara Beth all at age 7 are somewhat mirror images. “There may be something to this reincarnation thing “.
Her last years were extremely difficult as she suffered from Parkinson’s Plus disease. The “plus” was recently diagnosed as a rare fatal disease “Multiple Systems Atrophy”.
She remained positive and maintained her sense of humour at home until her family could no longer care for her and the last days were at the Regional Hospital, An Cala Palliative Care unit.
Marion was a funny, kind and generous person right to the end who loved to give presents, to help and offer advice to anyone in need. She was a “shopper extraordinaire” and took great pride in the purchases made for others. Her final gift was her body, for research in the quest to find a cure for Parkinson’s and other neurological diseases. Thanks to the many Doctors and nurses along her life journey and most recently of the Regional Hospital 4th floor.
Donations in her memory to the Cape Breton East Chapter of the Parkinson’s Society or any charity of your choice would be appreciated. Marion will live on in the trove of happy memories she leaves with us. Her beautiful smile, humour, love of clothes and shoes, expressions of love and kindness will keep us close.
There will be no immediate visitation or service. An open house celebration of Marion’s life will be held on Saturday, October 13 from 3 till 6 p.m. at the Dobson Yacht Club in Westmount.
“Life is short, live it
to the fullest.”