Marie Barbara Cerny

With deep sadness and profound love, we mourn the death of Marie Cerny, née Klimešová, who died on September 26, 2024. Her unwavering commitment to her faith and to social justice left a lasting impression and will be greatly missed.

Predeceased by her husband Luboš (1993) and son Steve (1980), Marie is survived by her daughters Judy (Bill) and Erica (Joe). She’ll be missed by grandchildren Monica, Alison, Nicholas, and Sydney, step-grandchildren Cath and Emilee, as well as several great-grandchildren and her siblings, Fanda and Lída, and their families in the Czech Republic.

Born in Cheb, Czechoslovakia in 1933, to František and Marie (Wagenknechtová) Klimeš, the family moved to Plzeň in 1938 where Marie grew up used to the sound of sirens and knew where the underground shelters were on her route to school. She cherished the summers spent with her grandparents in Soběraz. At 19, she married Luboš and worked as a schoolteacher. They lived with her in-laws for a decade before securing an apartment in Prague.

Having experienced significant harassment from the communist secret police in the 1950s, Marie and Luboš, with three children under ten, fled to Canada as refugees following the 1968 Soviet invasion. Two years later they received a letter from the communist regime sentencing them "in absentia" to two years in prison and repayment for their education costs.

In Canada, Marie worked as a nutritionist at St. John’s Convalescent Home (cycling the 12 km to work from Jane & Finch to Willowdale) and then as the cafeteria manager at George Harvey Collegiate while completing a BA in Sociology at York University.

In 1980, Marie and the family suffered the tragic death of her son, Steve, in a motorcycle accident.

In 1981, Marie began her career as a community worker at what became the Delta Child Care Network, a grassroots non-profit organization supporting low-income families in Toronto's northwest communities. She later served as Executive Coordinator until her retirement in the early 1990s.

Disappointed by the Catholic Church's determined reluctance to include women as equals, Marie became involved in several organizations that focused on furthering women’s equality in the Church, such as CNWE, the Catholic Network for Women's Equality and the Taproot Faith Community (1994). Taproot was her primary faith community for the rest of her life. Over the years she was also actively involved in several prayer groups, Bible study, and book discussions. She sought knowledge and spiritual inspiration, and at the same time, inspired those around her.

After moving to Presentation Manor in 2019, Marie engaged actively in her new community, founding the Sage Group, a monthly gathering fostering thoughtful discussions on diverse topics, and as co-chair on the residents' council.

In addition to her faith, art and music were an integral part of Marie’s life. Going to galleries was a lifelong pleasure and she was very knowledgeable about art. From playing the organ in church at the age of 13, teaching herself guitar in her 50s, and a season with Echo Women’s Choir, music was a vital part of her life.

As Marie recently stated in a video message for the Synod in Vatican City, these words from one of her favourite songs are what give her hope:

I will never forget you, my people,

I have carved you on the palm of my hand,

I will never forget you, I will not leave you orphaned,

I will never forget my own.

She will be dearly missed by those who knew her for her wisdom, generosity, kindness, humour, and thoughtful introspection and conversation.

A private family interment will take place on Monday, September 30, 2024 at Beechwood Cemetery.

A memorial service will take place on Tuesday, October 15, 2024 at Presentation Manor, 61 Fairfax Crescent, Scarborough at 1:00 p.m. The family intends to provide a virtual option for those who are unable to attend in person.

The family would like to thank Providence Healthcare and Michael Garron Hospital for their care in the last weeks.

In lieu of flowers, donations to Humanitarian Coalition are warmly appreciated.

Marie Cerny’s Memorial Service is available via livestream by visiting https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vf330GgNVVY