December 20, 1956 – December 04, 2020

With heavy hearts, we announce that Marlene passed away on December 4th in the Grace Hospital at the age of 63 years.

She is survived by her children Keith Barnsdale (Cherise), Brent Barnsdale (Stephanie), and Drew Barnsdale (Simrin); grandchildren Alexander, Eva, Emily, William, and Lillith; mother Madeleine Asham; siblings Rene Flamand, Farrell (Cheryl) Flamand, Darryl Flamand, Tracey (Michael) Wiebe; and her many nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her husband Edward Barnsdale and father Lamont Asham.

Marlene was a caring mother, daughter, sister, and friend. She was someone who loved to have a good conversation and laugh, regardless of if it was with her oldest friend or a stranger. For those who cared to know her they would always find a welcome ear and a heart that yearned to help even when all she could give was advice. She wanted to treat everyone as a friend as many a clerk, stranger in a long line, or nurse discovered throughout the years. If someone opened their heart to her, she would always match that open heart.

Throughout the years Marlene developed many skills and hobbies that included baking, sewing, knitting and crochet. As a mother she would use these skills throughout her children’s lives to enrich their birthdays with elaborate cakes and holidays with costumes and decorations. She took great pride in her ability to create and tried to share her creations as gifts for her loved ones.

Marlene was a woman that was destined to fight many battles and weather many trials. She was a fighter although most may never have known it. Widowed in 1985 while her children were still very young, she moved from Pinawa back to Winnipeg to be near her family and raise her three young boys. Throughout the years she would work various jobs from dental assistant, receptionist, to managing accounts for an advertising magazine. She always strove to provide a life for her children. Although she could not give them the world, she sacrificed much to try to give them a life.

As her health declined and days at the hospital became weeks, and weeks became months, she remained resolute in her drive to go home and spend time with her family. Her desire to witness as much of her children and grandchildren’s lives as possible gave her strength to press on, and often reignited hope for her despite struggling for so long. She never gave up on her goal to make it to the next day.

Often, we take those around us for granted, we do not realize all they sacrifice to make a difference. We do not seem to receive what others receive so we feel that there must have been a lack of effort to give us the life we hoped for. However, sometimes far more effort and strength has been exerted to keep the world together for us. Sometimes love isn’t expressed in gold, it is expressed in the tears and sleepless nights of someone who held a cracked globe together for those too young to know any better. It is expressed in trying to make the world look normal to those who have lost so much by someone who lost so much more. It is easy to sail the seas in a sturdy ship with a full crew, it is far harder to stop a ship from sinking once the crew is lost and the water is let in. Marlene, the mother that she always was, passed while trying to save her ship.

We would like to thank the Grace Hospital and all of the staff for the thought and care they had continued to give Marlene.

Marlene’s family kindly requests that all of her friends and relatives take a few minutes to honour her memory by watching the photo-biography above. They also encourage the sharing of photos, memories, and stories by making use of the comment section on this page.

In Accordance with their wishes, cremation has taken place and a private service will be held.

As an expression of sympathy, memorial contributions may be sent to the Canadian Lung Association.

​

ETHICAL DEATH CARE

Cremation & Life Celebrations

530 St. Mary Avenue - Winnipeg

204-421-5501 - www.ethicaldeathcare.com

​