Marilyn Irene (Nauss) Wenczler

Marilyn Wenczler (née Nauss) passed away suddenly at the Hope Living Residence in Kanata, Ontario at the age of 69 after a lengthy illness.

She is predeceased by her parents Marjory and Arnold, and her daughter Kimberley.

Marilyn is survived by her children Jennifer (Derrick) Jason (Amanda), and David (Tara); her grandchildren DeVaughn, James, Rose, Arlo, Torin and Aurora; her great grandchild Lilly; her siblings Shirley (Gordon) and Manny (Lisa); her aunt Wyneth; her fiance Durwin; and her ex-husband Janos.

Marilyn was born in Montreal, Quebec in 1951.  While working as a receptionist at Bruck Mills textile company in 1970, she met Janos Wenczler, whom she married in 1971.  Marilyn separated from Janos in 1983 and moved to Brights Grove, Ontario to be closer to her parents and sister.  Marilyn was a tremendous sports fan and took great joy in cheering on her kids while they played competitive soccer and basketball.  Days at the beach and holiday get-togethers with extended family were among some of Marilyn’s most cherished memories from those years. In 2006, Marilyn moved to Ottawa to be closer to her children and remained there for the rest of her life.

Marilyn will be remembered as a fighter by those who knew her best and loved her most.  She struggled to overcome more than her fair share of hardships, including a life-altering diagnosis of schizophrenia in her early fifties.  Despite the significant changes and limitations resulting from this, Marilyn remained hopeful and open to the world, and continued to seek out happiness and love right up until the end.

We will miss her independent spirit, her endless compassion, her capacity for forgiveness, her courage, her straight talk, and above all, the way she loved us unconditionally.

Cremation has already taken place and a celebration of life will be held at a later date.  In lieu of flowers, donations to the Shepherds of Good Hope would be greatly appreciated.  The Shepherd’s Hope Living Residence was Marilyn’s home in her final years.  Focused on supporting people with complex mental health issues, Hope Living’s staff treated Marilyn like family and always went over and above in taking care of Mom.  We are indebted to “Hope” for providing her with support, care, community and dignity as she approached the end of her life.