Marilyn passed away peacefully at St. Joseph’s Auxillary Hospital in Edmonton, Alberta, after a long and courageous battle with Parkinson’s disease. While medical staff often referred to her physical frailty, it was evident to all that her mental strength was a wonder to behold.
Marilyn grew up an only child in Calgary and attended the Calgary General Hospital school of Nursing where she made an amazing group of lifelong friends, and graduated as an RN in 1961.
She worked in many aspects of medicine, emergency medicine being her favorite area. She specialized in psychiatric nursing and worked through the early 1960’s at the Ponoka Mental Hospital where she met the love of her life, Dr. Arthur Bolle. They married in 1964 and moved to Edmonton where they bought a house in the Ottewell area and had 2 children and numerous dogs.
Marilyn was a great lover of animals, especially dogs and had originally wanted to go to veterinary school. While the kids were young, she stayed home and was an amazing Mom to Paul and Laura and went back to work once both kids were in Jr. High.
She worked for years in the x-ray department of the Baker Clinic in downtown Edmonton and made more life long friends whom she’d lunch with regularly well into retirement. Marilyn remained active in retirement volunteering for Capital Health and with the St. Vital Seniors center in Beaumont, where she and Art retired. In 2010, Marilyn was so thrilled to welcome her only granddaughter (finally, as she would say) Olivia. Olivia was the light of her life and Marilyn looked after her granddaughter often and they were the very best of friends.
Marilyn was predeceased by her parents Herbert & Jean Higgs (1985 & 1984 respectively), and her beloved husband of 47 years, Dr. Arthur Bolle (2011).
She leaves to mourn; her son Paul Bolle, her daughter Laura Barr, her granddaughter Olivia Barr and so many friends and family whom she dearly loved.
A Remembrance and celebration of her life will be held at Hainstock's Funeral Home and Crematorium 9810-34 Avenue NW Edmonton, AB Saturday, January 21, 2023 at 1 p.m.
If friends so desire, contributions may be made to the Edmonton Humane Society, the Stollery Children's Hospital in Marilyn’s honor.
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