Dawn Judith Minnie (nee Livesey) Marwood.

Born May 26, 1942. Passed away peacefully on Thursday, October 13, 2011 in Chatham Kent Health Alliance surrounded by her family.

Beloved wife of Rev. F. Curtis Marwood, mother of Stephen Marwood of Windsor, Chris Marwood (Jenni) of Carleton Place, Suu Taylor (Neil) of Alliston and Shelley Marwood of Toronto. Most treasured grandma to Gabrielle, Aurora & Jasper-Addison Taylor, and Fern and Willow Marwood.

Predeceased by parents John Livesey & Minnie McAdoo, sisters and brothers Ruth, Gladys, Fred, Marjorie, James, George, Rennie & Kenneth.

Survived by brothers Lawrence (Phyllis), Gerald (Frieda), Alan (Margaret) & sister Maribeth.

Dawn will also be dearly missed by her MANY nieces and nephews and large extended family.

Dawn was an active volunteer in the church and community. She sang in the church choirs, served on Presbytery and Conference committees, taught English as a Second Language, and organized one of the first Block Parent programs in Ontario.

Visitation will be held at the Blenheim Community Funeral Home, 53 Stanley, Blenheim, on Sunday, October, 16, 2011 from 2-4 pm & 7-9 pm.

Funeral Services will be held at the Blenheim United Church at 49 George St., Blenheim, on Monday, October, 17, 2011 @ 1:30 pm.

Dawn requested that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Mission and Service Fund of the United Church of Canada.

♦♦♦

Dawn (Livesey) Marwood (1942-2011)

Dawn was born in Essex, ON in 1942. She was number 11 of 13 children of John and Minnie Livesey. At the age of 3, her family moved to Kingsville where she attended school. Following graduation from Kingsville District High School as an honour student, she joined the Air Force and served as a Radio Control Operator with NORAD based in St. Hubert, QC. After 3 years in the Air Force, she returned to Kingsville and trained as a Medical Laboratory Technician. Curtis and Dawn were married August 20, 1966. In 1967, Dawn and Curtis were assigned by The United Church of Canada to the United Church of Zambia where Curtis taught in a boy’s residential secondary school. Dawn volunteered at the school community with the local people in teaching sewing, cooking and the Nutrition Clinic. But most important for Dawn was becoming a mother and raising her children. Stephen, Chris and Susan were born in Zambia. Shelley completed the family in 1980.

The family returned to Canada in 1974, where Dawn continued to volunteer in community and church. In 1978, when Curtis entered ministry, Dawn gladly joined him as his partner in ministry in Alvinston, Blind River, Point Edward, Windsor and Blenheim. She initiated and organized one of the first Block Parent programs in Ontario in Kingsville and again in Blind River. She was an alto in church choirs, was a member and president of the United Church Women in several communities, served on Presbytery and Conference Divisions of World Outreach of The United Church of Canada, and was a volunteer with the English as a Second Language program.

In 2002, she had surgery for colon cancer. In 2008 the cancer returned, but with her inner spiritual strength and a deep faith, it did not overcome her sense of humour and zest for life. Even during her struggle with cancer during the last 9 years, she kept an active interest in global affairs, refugee concerns and the mission of the church as well as enjoying her grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. She lives on in our memory and with the family of saints.