Obituary of Marilyn Rognvaldson

ROGNVALDSON, Marilyn

Passed peacefully at Hospice Wellington on Sunday, April 6, 2025 at the age of 83. Loving mother of Louise (Kevin) Dineen and Laura (Donn Godding); proud grandmother of Kary, Jessica, Alexandra, Robert, Keilan, Riley, and Aleesha; great-grandmother of Kenton; dear sister of Bill (Rosemary) and the late Roy (Heather); and cherished Godmother of Andrew.

Teaching, reading and an intrinsic love for learning were pillars in Mom's life; whether she was: graduating twice from Ryerson Institute of Technology in 1961 and 1978, pursuing typing and shorthand teaching careers in Sherbrooke, QC and John F. Ross - Guelph, ON, excelling as an Executive Assistant, trailblazing as the Rotary Trillium Secretary, founding a Writer's Fellowship with Rotary International, building a 30 year business, Temmer Enterprises, that facilitated electronic notetaking for students with hearing impairments, or became a self-published author of 4 books with a 5th in the works. In what spare time she had, Mom's professional pillars were foundational in birthing her passion project, Your Family Stories - a family history memorialized service.

Mom shared her enthusiasm for different cultures by travelling to Europe in the 60's, being the 'Kamakazi Obaasan' for Japanese Engineers brought in by Dofasco, hosting and co-ordinating 36 Japanese students with Cultural Homestay International in1993, attending Rotary International Conference in Australia, with a side jaunt to New Zealand and Portugal. The most noteworthy was a special trip to England with her daughter, Laura.

Mom was a whiz with the sewing machine and had a love for the fabricated arts. Some of her highlighted projects were making her bridesmaid's dresses, her sister-in-law wedding dress, clothes for herself, her children, her grandchildren, matching outfits for Louise and her grandmother. Being a familial seamstress lent to her love of quilting; her flair for materializing her fabric visions was enchanting. Unfortunately sewing visions nor typing speeds were shared with her daughters to her dismay.

Mom was a self-made woman, interested and interesting, protective over the ones she held dear. Mom began saying she was a "rich woman", not in material things, but where it really mattered. Her relationship with her family, friends, colleagues, peers, and even strangers fulfilled her immensely.

Our Family would like to thank Mom's team at Hospice Wellington. The brief time that we shared with you was extraordinary for Mom and our family in this transition of life.

A Memorial Gathering will be held on Saturday, April 12, 2025 at Brombal Funeral Home, 1 Delhi Street, Guelph On, from 1:00 – 4:00pm. In Marilyn’s spirit, the family asks that attendees wear purple if able.

For those who wish, donation’s in Marilyn’s honour to Hospice Wellington, the Canadian Cancer Society or Diamond-Blackfan Anemia Canada would be sincerely appreciated by the family.