Marilyn (Brown) Arkell, R.N.
Born In: Sydney Mines, Nova Scotia, Canada
Born: June 28th, 1934
Passed in: Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Passed on: September 20th, 2012
Marilyn Christine (Brown) Arkell, R.N. passed away suddenly at her home in Victoria on Sept. 20, 2012 at the age of 78.
She will be greatly missed by her family, husband, Tom; son Brian (Anne); daughter, Megan (Owen) and grandchildren, Corrie, Kirsten (Jim), Clare, Elinor and Rowan, as well as by many other relatives and friends.
Nurse, mother, and behind-the-scenes community activist, Marilyn was born on June 28, 1934, in Sydney Mines, the eldest child of Ralph Brown, a coal-miner and Christine Alderson, a coal-miner's daughter. At the age of 17, shortly after entering nurse's training, Marilyn was faced with the unexpected death of her father. She continued her training, sent money home, and assisted her mother in the raising of her three younger siblings, Bruce, Lois and Ann. She graduated with her R.N. in Glace Bay in 1954, and immediately began her nursing career in Halifax.
Also in 1954, on a blind date, she met Lieutenant Thomas Arkell, a Royal Canadian Naval Officer originally from Cheltenham, England. They were married in the chapel at Naden Barracks, Victoria on Nov. 1, 1958. Marilyn battled and defeated cancer in her late twenties, and then gave up her nursing career to concentrate on raising the children that she and Tom adopted, Brian, in 1964 and Megan, in 1966. After a period of frequent moves, brought about by Tom's military career, the family permanently settled in Victoria in 1970.
Shortly after, Tom and Marilyn became active members of Centennial United Church, and served in a variety of roles including teaching Sunday school. Along with Tom, Marilyn also began volunteering at her children's school, Burnside Elementary in the early 1970s, and touched the lives of many children for over 30 years until the school's closing in 2006. In honour of their unique achievement, the Victoria Confederation of Parent Advisory Councils instituted the annual Arkell Award for Community Involvement in Schools, and Marilyn and Tom were the inaugural recipients in 2006.
After achieving success as a client at Weight Watchers, Marilyn began working for the organization in the late 1970s, and remained there for over a decade, helping many people to reach their goals. Marilyn also assisted her husband in founding the Burnside Gorge Community Association, of which she was an active member until her death.
But it was as a wife, mother and grandmother that Marilyn left her most lasting mark. Marilyn loved her family with a passion, and her constant fussing, worrying and gregarious caring were visible reminders of this love. Her training as a nurse and bristly assertiveness made her an excellent caregiver and a tireless medical advocate for her husband Tom, who faced a number of health challenges over the past 20 years. She leaves behind a strong, united and loving family; this is her ultimate legacy.
A memorial service will be held in Victoria at Centennial United Church (612 David Street, at Gorge Road East) on Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012 at 2 p.m., with a reception to follow in the church hall. Preceding the service, there will be a ringing of the bells in the tower of Christ Church Cathedral (Quadra Street at Rockland Avenue) in Marilyn's honour from 1-1:30 pm. All are welcome.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Burnside Gorge Community Association, Centennial United Church, and the Christ Church Cathedral Bell Fund.
