Marian Jacobsen

Three years ago when we were in Australia, Marian Anne's sister, and Dot. Speceter planned a trip to England where they would all meet, stay with Dot who lives just outside London, and go on a tour of the British Isles. England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, which they would also invite Maureen Anne's other sister who lives in Vancouver. Maureen, Anne, and Marian meet at Dot's. house in Dagenham where Marian drops a bomb shell on them. Marian tells them that she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and was given 18 months to live. That had the effect of a kick in the stomach, but only for a few minutes because, they all quickly realized that, that was not the time to seem down. The Gang as I will refer to them went on to do all the things they planned and had a great time. As it was nearing the end of the time in England though Marian was starting to falter a little. Anne offered to stay on until Marian had to go home, but she would have none of it and insisted that Anne come home, which she did reluctantly. When I picked her up at the airport Anne broke down telling me about Marian. Marian took a turn for the worse and her son Carl had to come to Australia and help her get home. She kept getting worse and it was decided that because it looked so bad Anne and Maureen would try to get to Australia to be with her. Flights were are to get but Anne had one booked to Vancouver where she would meet up with Maureen and they would go on to Australia together. Anne's flight to Vancouver was booked for Friday Oct 6/06 when we, Amanda, Bo. A. David A. Ron M. and myself were going to be at the cottage for thanksgiving and to shut off the water. While we were up at the cottage Friday night, while Anne was in the air we got a call from Carl in Australia that Marian had died. Marian's next big trip planned was to Canada because she wanted to see it in the summer. Both times she was here was in March for her mothers 80th and 90th birthdays, when it is always cold.
When Marian came over the fist time with her husband Rod, we decided to try to get down to the cottage on a snowmobile, which we borrowed from Lyman N. The weather was great, the sun was shinning the whole time, it was about 20F during the days and a good time was had by all,as evidenced by the accompanying pictures. It was Rod's first time out of Australia and he had never seen snow before, so it was all new.
Marian had a difficult time of it going to Australia in her early 20's with a husband and 2 young kids, the travails of going from Sydney to Perth in an old beat up car, with good spirits. I am almost reminded of Steinbeck's Ma. Joad. Marian Went on to raise a good family all of them successful with good family's of their own, and that is no small accomplishment in these days.
Marian worked at a variety of low paying jobs in order to keep her family and herself which took it's toll, but always in good humour and great courage. She was an inspiration to all who knew her, and will be greatly missed by family and friends alike. We in Canada are sorry you won't get to see Pickerel River in the summer, but know you are in our thoughts, and may it always be summer where you are now.
Allan