Obituary of Marie Canvin
LOIS MARIE (ENDERSBY) CANVIN, B.S.A. (U. of Manitoba, Horticulture, 1956)
Passed away peacefully on Sunday, August 30th, 2020 at the Fairmount Home.
Marie was born on September 2, 1933 in St. Boniface Hospital, Manitoba. Her first claim to fame was to
win the "Sunny Child" contest put on by the Winnipeg Free Press in 1937. She was awarded a tricycle for
her winning smile and disposition. As she grew up in the Winnipeg area, she enjoyed playing piano,
skating, shinny hockey, card playing and camping with her family. Later, Marie enrolled in the University
of Manitoba. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture in 1956. While at university, in an
entomology class, she met her husband David T. Canvin with whom she would share 52 years of married
life and have 4 children. Marie and David were married on July 13, 1957. As her children grew up, she
became an active participant in many community organizations. She was a member of Kingston’s St.
John’s Anglican Church, the Kingston Curling Club, a weekly bridge playing club and the Queen’s
University Faculty Women’s Club for which she later served as President. As a volunteer President of the
Sunnyside Childrens’ Centre, she spent a number of years supporting its work with troubled children.
Because of her husband’s scientific career, she enjoyed the opportunity to travel around the world. She
lived in Austria, Australia, the United States (Indiana and Illinois) and South Africa. In 1993, upon her
husband retiring from Queen’s University, she and David purchased Snug Harbour Resort on Desert Lake
near Verona and moved there, leaving her home at 17 Queen Mary Road in Kingston that she had lived
in since 1966. For many years, she worked with her husband to make the resort a successful operation
which is still being run by her son, Robert. While at the resort, she continued with her love of plants and
spent many happy hours establishing a perennial bed, a Japanese Garden and a rock garden complete
with frog pond and lily pads. She was known for: being a good cook and hostess, a great sense of
humour, her constant optimism, love of socializing and lively interest in other people. Mom was kind,
caring, loving and strong. She had a big heart and was a second Mom to many. She was our awesome
Mom. Marie was predeceased by her husband, David T. Canvin, her daughter, Sarah Jean Canvin, her
sister Jean Taylor (nee Endersby) Rockey, her sister’s husband, John Clifford “Jack” Rockey, Marie`s
father, James Edward Endersby, Marie`s mother, Margaret (nee Ormshaw) Endersby. She was further
predeceased by her brothers and sisters-in-law: Lawrence Christopher Canvin, his wife, Pearl Patricia
(nee Grantham) Canvin, Lillian (nee Canvin) Stewart and her husband, Herbert Grasset Stewart, Sr.. She
was further predeceased by the following nieces and nephews: Herbert Grasset Stewart, Jr., his wife,
Audrey (nee Van Blaricom) Stewart, Diane Elizabeth Stewart, Wendy Ann (nee Kirner) Stewart (wife of
Charlie Stewart), husband of her niece, Jennifer (Canvin) Konwalchuk, Bill Konwalchuk and husband of
her niece Margeurita (Stewart) Chapil, Chester Chapil. Marie is survived and will be sorely missed by her
son, Steven, his wife Elizabeth Stayer and grandchildren, Gillian and Neil; her son, Paul, and partner,
Terri-Lee Brouse; her son Robert; her nephews and nieces and their children: Duncan Canvin, Elizabeth Ann (Beth)
(Canvin) Horton (Dale), Lawrence Christopher “Lorne” Canvin, Victoria (Canvin) Major (Tom), Kathleen
(Canvin) Hedge (Bruce), Jennifer (Canvin) Konwalchuk, Andrew Canvin (Barbara), Daniel Canvin (Janet),
Marguerita (Stewart) Chapil, Valerie (Stewart) Robinson (Robert), James “Jimmy” Stewart, Virginia
Stewart and Charlie Stewart. She will also be missed by her many cousins and friends, in particular, the
Holmes, Fisher and Shipley families and all who were touched by our Mother’s love and compassion.
We would like to thank Mom’s Guardian Angel, Sidney Ryan, who helped look after our Mother in her
final years. As well, the Family would like to thank the wonderful staff at the Fairmount Home in
Glenburnie for their kind, conscientious and dedicated care.
If you wish to make a donation in memory of Marie, she was personally touched by and very concerned
with the mental health of children; accordingly, the family would appreciate you making a donation to a
charity of your choice which assists with the mental health of children.
The Family is planning a virtual Memorial Service for our Mother at a later date. If you would like to
participate please send an email to mariecanvinmemorial@gmail.com so that we can forward you a
notification of the date, time and link to the event.
