Peacefully, surrounded by loving family, Marlene passed away to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on the morning of February 6, 2021 of natural causes.  Marlene is predeceased by her husband of 62 years John; son Dale; parents Ernie and Ethel Christensson, as well as brothers Ronald and Goldwyn Christensson.

 

Born and raised in Saskatchewan, Marlene moved to Banff Alberta with her family where her father, who immigrated from Sweden, was a master chef hired at the Banff Springs Hotel in the late 1940s.  Later moving to Calgary, she met John Rodyniuk, the love of her life, at the Crystal ice-skating rink in the district of Eau Claire.  Marlene and John married in 1953.  An active, working couple, Marlene worked with the General Motor Company while John worked with Royalite Oil Company then the City of Calgary.  Marlene was active in the Hillhurst Baptist Church and a champion 5 pin bowler, winning many tournaments in and around Calgary throughout the 1950s and early 1960s. Marlene and John welcomed their son Dale in 1962, with Marlene staying home, to focus on raising their family.  A few years later, their son Michael arrived in 1965.  The close-knit family lived in St. Andrew’s Heights, a district in Northwest Calgary, from 1965-2017.  Marlene was the very essence of grace, humility, gentleness, joy and unconditional love which she extended to her precious family and everyone she met. 

 

Marlene comes from a long line of faithful, strong, independent women who immigrated from Scotland and France to Quebec Canada where her family traces their roots to the 1700s.  She shared an incredibly special, close relationship with her grandmother Ellen Balfour Leech (née Goodall), sharing summers at the family cottage in Regina Beach, Saskatchewan or at the Leech farm in Glenavon Saskatchewan.

 

Marlene moved to Winnipeg in 2017 to be closer to her son Michael and his family. Together, they traveled to Sweden, Marlene’s father’s home country, the United States, cruised to Mexico and South America and traveled to the family’s cottage in Regina Beach Saskatchewan, a summer retreat for 5 generations. 

 

Marlene will be forever loved, remembered, and missed by her Son Michael and his wife (Marlene’s “Daughter-in-Love”) Kara and her grandchildren, Tyler and Micaylee Rodyniuk.

 

The family extends their sincere thanks for the dignity and care extended to Marlene through Manitoba Home Care and the team at Portsmouth Rivera. 

 

A celebration of life will be held at a later date. In the meantime, Marlene’s family kindly requests that her friends and relatives take a few minutes to honour her memory by watching the photo-biography above. Please, also consider sharing your own photos and/or sharing your own memories and stories using the comment section on this page.

 

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you … Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."

John 14:27