Obituary of MARLENE REBECCA TINLING

MARLENE REBECCA TINLING

It is with sadness we announce that Marlene Rebecca Tinling, 81 years old, of Winnipeg, MB, passed away peacefully in her sleep on November 27, 2018, in Winnipeg.

The funeral will take place on Wednesday, December 19 at 1:00 p.m., at Cropo Funeral Chapel, 1442 Main Street, Winnipeg. Interment will follow in Elmwood Cemetery. Reception will be announced after the service.

Marlene was born in Winnipeg to (Eric) Charles Tinling and Margaret Tinling (Engel) on March 2, 1937. She attended Miles Macdonell Collegiate and graduated from Daniel McIntyre Collegiate in 1955. She completed her post-secondary education at the Manitoba Teachers' College. Marlene taught at several schools in Thunder Bay and Ear Falls, ON, and Winnipeg. In her youth she enjoyed traveling and had an appreciation for music.  Marlene sang in school choirs, learned piano and participated in St. Alphonsus School music recitals. She earned a certificate from The Royal Conservatory of Music and enjoyed playing piano in the family home.

Marlene leaves behind two children, Dwaine of Winnipeg and Gregg of Calgary, AB, along with two very beloved grandchildren, Alison and Eric.

She is survived by her three siblings; Caroline of Toronto, ON, Keith (Diane) of The Villages, FL, and Karen (Terry) of London, ON, and their families.

Marlene was a gentle soul and loved being with her family. She lived with mental illness, which shaped many of her relationships and how she lived life. As we remember Marlene, let us think upon her resiliency and her loving heart. People living with these challenges face many stigmas in our society; going forward we must ask ourselves what each of us can do and how we can foster support for people living with these conditions. Each of us can be an advocate by simply remembering mental illness is not one’s identity.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the Canadian Mental Health Association, 930 Portage Ave, Winnipeg, MB, R3G 0P8, or the Canadian Association for Williams Syndrome, P.O. Box 2115, Vancouver, BC, V6B 3T5. The family wishes to extend their gratitude to staff of Kildonan Horizons for their understanding and support provided over the years.