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Peacefully, on Saturday, December 27, 2025 at Marshall Gowland Manor, Sarnia, Marian Hall passed away in her 86th year. She was predeceased by her parents Wallace and Cecilia; her husband Douglas; her brother-in-law Gary. Marian is survived by her step-daughter Elizabeth Hall and grandchildren Kelly, Dawson and Rian; her brother Wallace Krawczyk (Nan Elliott) of Camlachie, Ontario; and niece Marian Krawczyk (Justin Simpson) of Dumfries, Scotland.
Marian was born in Hamilton in 1940 and grew up on the family farm in West Flamborough. Early life meant long hours planting, weeding, and harvesting the fruits and vegetables grown there, then getting up at 5 a.m. to help sell them on the Hamilton Farmers Market. She attended Bowman School, the proverbial one room red schoolhouse, a half mile walk away, tricky and challenging in the winters that used to be. There Marian made many life-long friends and later at Westdale Secondary School in Hamilton where she was enrolled in the business program winning several academic awards. After graduation, Marian worked as a legal secretary in various locations such as Dundas, Blind River, and Oshawa.
Upon marriage to Doug, Ajax became her home. Marian and Doug were keen tennis players and Marian was active in the local Tai Chi association. She was an excellent cook and hosted dinners for friends and family featuring the next delicious and nutritious recipe. Influenced by her early upbringing in market gardening, she was an active member of the Ajax Garden Club and maintained three plots, helping any novice member who sought her advice. (Wally recalls her annual phone call: “I’ve got a dozen Brandywine tomato plants here for you and they’re getting leggy.” Time then to hop in the car and make the three-hour drive to pick them up.)
In addition to her culinary and horticultural accomplishments, Marian enrolled in night classes at the University of Toronto where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree.
Marian shared her love of travel and gardening with her friend Sylvia through garden tours together overseas. She enjoyed walks and the birds and the flowers along the Lake Ontario waterfront near her home. Marian was a kind and caring person and she will be missed by her family and by her friends Sylvia, Stacey, Margaret, Phyllis, Emilie, and Bernadine, to name just a few.
Special thanks to Dr. Crozier and the staff at Marshall Gowland Manor for their compassionate and professional care for Marian during her residence there. Cremation has taken place. There will be a private interment ceremony at a future date.
Sympathy may be expressed through donations to Doctors Without Borders or the charity of your choice (cheques only at the funeral home, please). Arrangements entrusted to Smith Funeral Home, 1576 London Line, Sarnia.
