Marjorie MacDonald

Obituary

A loving wife, a dear mother, a devoted grandmother and an unwavering friend to many, Marjorie Ann MacDonald died January 24, 2026, at Saugeen Memorial Hospital in Southampton, Ontario. She was 82.

She was beloved by her husband, Wayne, and cherished by her children, Scott and his wife, Marie, and Ryan and his wife, Lori. She was born Marjorie Ann Farwell, the loving daughter of the late Clemens and Vera (Lynett) Farwell and is survived by her sister, Joan Thomas. She is predeceased by her sister, Elaine Kunda; her brother-in-law, Warner Thomas; and her brother, Rev. Father Murray C Farwell.

Born on April 3, 1943, in St. Clements, Ont., Marje never forgot where she came from. Throughout life, her heart was always in that place where people work hard and speak the truth. In another sense, she embodied both sides of her family, balancing the austerity of a Farwell with the fun-loving spirit of a Lynett. She loved a good barn dance.

Marje and Wayne were married for 58 years. There’s was a commitment borne of friendship, trust and love. They built a life together in Kitchener-Waterloo, where Marje worked in the insurance industry. When the family followed Wayne’s journalism career to Barrie, Ont., Marje worked for the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources where she balanced budgets while still making time for a ride in a pickup truck through the woods. It was a job that she loved and talked about for many years. Later, upon returning to Waterloo, Marje found her calling in the advertising and production business, where she thrived and built life-long friends. She liked people, cherished strong friendships and she maintained them.

In retirement, the time that Marje and Wayne spent together was marked by volunteerism, travel, family, fun and, at times, misadventure. For Marje, the dangerous was ordinary and the ordinary was dangerous. In her youth, she fearlessly skied the mountains of Utah without harm, only to be felled by a crack in the sidewalk on her bicycle in Southampton later in life. It happened more than once.

Marje was a devoted and loving grandmother to her four grandchildren: Brayden, Brooklyn, Connor and Cameron, and cherished her time with each one of them. Her love for them will not fade, it is undying.

In the face of health challenges through much of her life, Marje was guided by her faith in God and lived her life with compassion and a deep love for her family and friends. We will miss her.

A funeral mass will be held at St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church, 36 Albert St., Southampton on Saturday, January 31, at 11 a.m., to be followed by a reception at St. Paul’s Anglican Church Parish Hall, 248 High St., from 12 to 3 p.m.