Marilyn Boucher

It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of our beloved Marilyn. She was born in Glace Bay, on January 22, 1941 and she died on her 82^nd birthday, January 22, 2023, in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia.

Marilyn was predeceased by her parents Bernard and Hannah (Farrell) Crawford. She is survived by her devoted husband of 60 years, Peter John Boucher, her daughter Lisa Boucher, Halifax, and son David (Toni) Boucher, Port Huron, Michigan, Brothers; Bernie, PEI, and James, Sydney.  Also, her cherished grandchildren, Brett and Emma Boucher and Hannah and Mia Buchanan.

In 1958, Marilyn won First-place prizes in English, History and Biology from St. Anne’s School and a scholarship to the Provincial Normal College in Truro. Thereafter, she was a teacher in Gardiner Mines Elementary School for four years before having her family. In 1982 she became the Co-ordinator of Nursery Schools at the Citizen Service League in Glace Bay and in 1989 she held the job of Family Life Educator for the Family Service of Eastern Nova Scotia. In 1994 she received her Diploma in Adult Education from St. Francis Xavier University and taught pre-marriage courses all over the island, retiring in 2000.

Marilyn and Peter have lived on their gorgeous property in Black Brook since 1982, surrounded by well-tended gardens, green houses, glorious apple, peach and plum trees, bushes of haskap berries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries. Visitors never leave empty-handed. Marilyn loved the wooden bench that Peter built for her overlooking the quiet Black Brook, a peaceful spot to watch the cemetery, eagles, otters, duck and geese under the shade of fir trees.

Marilyn loved to rug hook. She belonged to a Glace Bay book club since reading was always a passion. She painted, made exquisite baskets and filled her home with treasures from her travels. She and Peter spent ten years exploring Nova Scotia after she retired and they enjoyed time at their summer place in Margaree.

Mostly, her life was caring for families, her own and everyone else’s. She took her elderly father to Europe for a month so he could visit museums and see beautiful art for himself. She was a charitable woman to loved ones, friends, neighbours and strangers, like her mother before her. She lived her faith, never missing a Mass in her life. A kind and caring soul who loved to spend hours on the phone with her grandchildren, giving advice, laughing and more importantly, listening. She had many, many fur babies over the years, (Simon, Tink, Buster etc.) and driving to Dearn’s Corner with Peter and their terrier Oscar for ice cream was a highlight in her day.

A heartfelt thank you to Dr. Michael Gallivan and Sonja for their care and compassion. Thank you to our neighbours, especially Eliza Peach and Bucky MacLeod.

She didn’t wear makeup and wasn’t interested in fashion but she loved red shoes. And she only wore lipstick once. The day she married Peter. He said he turned around as she walked down the aisle and he was overcome by her beauty. He still is…

To Marilyn

60 years ago today

We had started on our way

Together we have built

A life.

Lots of love, and little strife

Let us give our thanks

To God

For what we have

A real true love.

  Peter