Mrs. Margaret Marie Fabbro

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our dear wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, sister, and friend on November 8, 2023, after a long battle with cancer. Margaret Marie Louise, born on April 18, 1937, in Kelowna, BC, was the youngest of four children and revelled in what she described as an idyllic childhood. She often shared cherished memories of bygone Kelowna, cycling on serene streets, playing in the orchards, walking on the beach with one of her beloved dogs, and embracing the authentic joys of lake life at the aquatic centre with friends. An avid athlete, Marie thrived in competitive and synchronized swimming. When Marie was not playing team sports, she enjoyed downhill skiing and skating on the lake.

After high school, Marie ventured to Notre Dame, a small private Catholic college in Nelson, BC, where she often reminisced about "the best years" of her life. Here, she forged many enduring friendships and met her future husband, Reno Fabbro. Marie continued her education at UBC, receiving her teaching certification and going on to teach in Crawford Bay, Surrey, and Haney. Once the children came along, she devoted herself to being a stay-at-home mom. Later, she returned to the classroom as an on-call teacher and also worked at The Bay in the housewares department.

Marie and Reno married in 1963 and expanded their family with the birth of their children: Lisa, Michelle, Gina, and Mark - four kids in five years. In 1969, Reno earned a vice principalship, and Kamloops became their new home; they would raise their children at “357” and stay in the family home until Mom’s passing. Mom dedicated her time to supporting her four active kids in various extracurricular activities, from those early morning drives to the hockey rink to sewing ballet costumes or scorekeeping for softball. Family time was always a priority; we all have fond memories of summers spent around the backyard pool, road trips in the station wagon, and winters skiing together at the local mountains. Mom’s interests included golf, biking, skiing, reading, cooking, as well as volunteer work. Along with Dad, she was a long-time supporter of the Kamloops Blazers.

Marie's zest for life translated into a love for travel and adventure. Her infectious positivity turned every experience from fine to incredible. In her early twenties, she embarked on a year-long Vespa journey through Europe with her dear friend, Philomena. Through the stories she would enthusiastically share, she instilled in her family a passion for travel, an adventurous spirit, and a desire to live life to its fullest. During their retirement, Marie and Reno continued travelling, attending a family reunion in Switzerland and exploring warmer destinations in the winter months. Their last major trip was a cruise from Singapore to Rome. Even in later years, Marie maintained a youthful spirit, enthusiastically trying activities like tubing, body surfing, pickleball, and being a proud Spirit Warrior dragon boat paddler.

Mom possessed the determination to speak her mind, a trait she displayed with increasing boldness in her final years. She was equally fierce with the flyswatter, quickly attacking any wasps that dared to join our meals! Mom battled cancer many times, and each time she faced this challenge, she demonstrated unparalleled optimism, courage, and strength.

Family was everything for Mom. She built strong relationships with all of her children and grandchildren, keeping up to date with their activities, academic achievements, and sporting accomplishments. She was always their biggest cheerleader. Mom, we know you are in heaven cheering us on, with that big smile, courageous spirit, and the unequivocal belief we will succeed. As Dad shared, “Dear, you are my strength. I am so grateful we celebrated our 60th anniversary this past August.”

So many will miss you, but we know your courage, kindness, “saying it like it is,” vivacious spirit, genuine enthusiasm, and unconditional love has left a lasting impact that will endure within each of us. Marie is survived by her husband and best friend, Reno; her children, Lisa (Daniel), Michelle (Stefan), Gina (Kirk), and Mark (Deirdre); and her grandchildren, Gabby, Haley, Alex, Julia, Luke, Josh, Ellie, Matteo, and John. She is also survived by her sister, Alice, and sister-in-law, Loretta. Marie is predeceased by her parents, Marie and Louis de Pfyffer; her stepfather, Jim Pettigrew; and her two brothers, Robert (Isabelle) and Charles (Joan).

A funeral mass will be held on Thursday, November 16, 2023, at 11:00 am at Holy Family Parish (2797 Sunset Dr). In lieu of flowers, if you wish, consider a donation to the Kamloops Hospice Association, the Canadian Cancer Society, or the Royal Inland Hospital Foundation.

Words cannot express our gratitude for the support we received, especially during these past few weeks. Dr. Paul Dickinson - Mom said you were an “angel on earth;” we cannot thank you enough for your loving care. To the Marjorie Willoughby Hospice staff, thank you for filling Mom’s final days with care, compassion, and providing the family with support. We also want to express our gratitude towards the healthcare providers in our community that supported Mom and our family - your work is hard, and we appreciate all you do.

You may offer a message of condolence at Schoening Funeral Service for the Fabbro family.