Obituary of Marian Louise Traver Thomson

Marian died on October 10, 2024, at her home in Kanata, Ontario, at the age of 96 years. She made her exit on her terms, with the support of medical assistance in dying (MAID). Amusingly, she remarked that life had been a good ride and that her best before date had come and gone!

Marian was born in Collingwood, Ontario, on September 29, 1928, to Mae (McDermid) and Duncan McIntyre. Growing up in Collingwood captured all of the goodness of small town living and more. She rode the train to Blue Mountain from the townsite in the 1940’s,  ascending the slope on foot and delighting in the thrill of sliding down. On select occasions, she afforded the $.25 single upslope ride on a horse drawn sleigh. Beach life on Georgian Bay with friends were golden experiences during her summer seasons.

Marian was attentive to the needs of her family. She assisted with her livein grandmother. And as well, she faced increased responsibilities given her father, a war amputee injured at Passchendaele in WWI, faced barriers due to his disabilities. Marian was an eager worker. Her first summer jobs were spent toiling in local fruit picking and by her mid-teens, she worked in clothing retail sales and floral arranging. This became the foundation for a lifelong interest in fashion and beauty, food and giftware.

Marian attended the University of Toronto 5TO, earning a degree in Home Economics in 1950. Following this, she attended a one-year program at the Ontario College of Education, and taught two years of secondary education in Orillia, Ontario. During the summers of her undergraduate education, she worked in Point au Baril, Georgian Bay, at the Ojibway Hotel. It was her final summer, where she met John Thomson, resident doctor, to whom she married on July 11, 1953, in Collingwood, Ontario.

John’s medical career took them to the UK, small communities in northern Ontario, and later to Kingston and Cornwall. All the while, they continued to build a family of three daughters, Jan Thomson, Suzy Thomson and Sally Thomson (Dave Kaegi). During the summer of 1966, Marian and John finally settled into West End Ottawa, Carlingwood, where they lived for many years. From 1971 to 2001, Marian and her family were part-time residents of Kingsmere Lake, Quebec, where they enjoyed a range of outdoor activities in the Gatineau Park.

Marian was an ardent supporter of the Canadian University Women’s Club (CFUW), fully embracing the goals of empowering young women and removing barriers to post-secondary education. It would be an understatement to say that Marian was an avid reader, cryptic cross word buff and duplicate bridge player. She never missed a crossword in the Globe and Mail and listened to CBC radio, especially book review programming. Right to her end of life she belonged to book clubs, joining other passionate cohorts in lively discussions.

The 1970’s ParticipACTION program moved Marian to a higher purpose. Rounding up a second hand single-speed bicycle, she challenged the norms of riding her bicycle throughout the Ottawa region. Bike sport was atypical of women at the time. So began her love for biking which spanned 50 years, including several guided cycle tours abroad. Her membership to the Ottawa West End YMCA lasted an impressive 49 years. In fact, she remained a lasting holdout in fitness classes into her mid-80’s, inspiring others half her age. She formed lifelong and enduring friendships at the Y of like-minded women. They organized group bike tours throughout the Ottawa region, canoe trips and cross-country ski adventures, including the Canadian Ski Marathon.

Marian is survived by her three daughters, son-in-law, Dave Kaegi; and sister, Ruth Gammell (John Gammell). Her husband, John Thomson, MD, predeceased Marian on October 25, 2018. Marian had a strong family presence, and insisted that a positive attitude was good tonic and didn’t let life challenges define her. Her four grandchildren, Cam Kaegi, Hanna Thomson, as well as Sarra and Felix Dupuis have drawn from her wisdom. Marian had the good fortune of living a life long enough to witness the arrival of the next generation, great-grandchildren: Cobin, Dax, Talita, Naftali and Ben. A special thank you to niece and nephew, Betsy and Traver Gammell, for your good company in Marian’s later years.

Marian appreciated the care and treatment she received from MAID staff who provided a supportive and dignified opportunity to end life as she did. Further gratitude to Dr. Lisa Sloan (GP) and Dr. Jennifer McDonald (Neurologist) Ottawa Hospital Pain Clinic for your care. A nod to Susan Hagar (RN BCPA of Nurses On Board). She made Marian’s final years more comfortable and helped to navigate relevant medical services on her behalf.

At Marian’s request (and her no fuss attitude), no funeral or memorial service will be held. Marian and John’s cremated remains can be found in a columbarium at the Pinecrest Cemetery, Ottawa, Ontario. We invite family and friends to visit for comfort and reflection. We will all miss you, Gramma T. Gone but always present in spirit and through the opportunities she made available to those whom she loved. And may we never forget – cod liver oil, the secret to longevity, and “table manners please!"