It's that day again. Remember and be alive.
Above is the tribute card that Wizards of the Coast made for Marilyn. (I bought the original artwork, I hope Dan Dossantos doesn't mind me directly copying it from his site.) A wonderful gesture that touched me to my core. Such an amazing honor for an amazing woman. You can read the write-up I did explaining the card here.
Marilyn didn't want me to be sad when she passed on. "What good would it do for me to look down from heaven and see you crying? And know I couldn't do anything to help?"
I know she feels that way for everyone. So, today, do something you love in tribute to her. Read the things she loved in the text below and honor her by doing one of them. Play a MMORPG, work in your garden, watch the birds, watch some UFC or one of her favorite movies.
Marilyn's Obituary.
Marilyn Jane Wakefield passed away from ovarian Cancer on Tuesday, May 23, 2006 at 6:00 p.m. She passed away at home, in a bed looking out French doors at her birds, and dogs playing in the yard. She was surrounded by family and friends and had been for days.
Marilyn was born in Brattleboro, Vermont on November 18, 1963. She graduated from Middlebury Union High School in 1981 and went to Champlain College for a year. Afterward she worked at The Marbleworks Partnership as an Administrative Assistant. After a number of years working in the office, she rose to the position of Manager, handling all the renting, leasing and various duties that go with it. She worked there for 15 years until her passing.
Marilyn loved to read, work in her six flower gardens and watch birds feeding at her multiple feeders. She dabbled in agility training one of her dogs, Morganna, for a few years and set up an agility course in the back yard.
She also loved to stride the Obsidian Plains killing Tuskers, find matching blue armor for her Avatar, and assault Albion Castles in the early morning hours with her husband Bouldar Granite the Troll.
Marilyn was introduced to Massive Online Role Playing Games by her husband in the late 1990’s. This became their favorite pastime. When not working, walking their dogs, napping, or getting food, they could be found exploring countless worlds and having amazing adventures. They adventured together for thousands of hours over the years. Marilyn loved it all. She loved Diamond Runs in Darkness Falls. She loved gathering with up to a hundred people to plunder the depths of Tuscaren Glacier and fighting the 20 foot tall giants inside. She loved Aerlinthe, sparkly blue armor, and bow and arrows.
Marilyn’s gift for charming people was extraordinary, from the nurses who constantly praised her attitude and courage to our friends we played online games with. She was followed from game to game by almost everyone who adventured with her. She was sought out by friends and family for her wisdom and decision making, offering marital advice, life lessons, and general counsel on all subjects. Her reputation for this was legendary. She was sought out over and over by people who had found her advice sound and trusted her to help them again.
She was loved by all who met her. In intensive care after surgery, the nurses called her “our little princess” and informed her husband that patients like Marilyn inspired them to go into nursing, to take care of people as nice as her. As a frequent visitor to McClure 6 in Fletcher Allen Hospital, many of the nurses referred to her as their favorite patient. They all went far above and beyond care that was needed to make her comfortable and happy. She charmed everyone she met with her courage and spirit.
Her favorite movies were Love Potion Number 9, Pretty Woman, Beauty and the Beast, True Lies, Terminator II, Dirty Dancing, The Matrix, Shallow Hal, Serenity, Michael and The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
Her Favorite TV shows were Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Firefly, Will and Grace, American Idol and The Ultimate Fighter.
She is survived by her husband Jamie Wakefield and their four dogs; Merlin, Morganna, Thor, and Nikki.
She is survived by her parents Raymond and Betty Whitaker and her brothers Edward and Bruce.
Marilyn was born in Brattleboro, Vermont on November 18, 1963. She graduated from Middlebury Union High School in 1981 and went to Champlain College for a year. Afterward she worked at The Marbleworks Partnership as an Administrative Assistant. After a number of years working in the office, she rose to the position of Manager, handling all the renting, leasing and various duties that go with it. She worked there for 15 years until her passing.
Marilyn loved to read, work in her six flower gardens and watch birds feeding at her multiple feeders. She dabbled in agility training one of her dogs, Morganna, for a few years and set up an agility course in the back yard.
She also loved to stride the Obsidian Plains killing Tuskers, find matching blue armor for her Avatar, and assault Albion Castles in the early morning hours with her husband Bouldar Granite the Troll.
Marilyn was introduced to Massive Online Role Playing Games by her husband in the late 1990’s. This became their favorite pastime. When not working, walking their dogs, napping, or getting food, they could be found exploring countless worlds and having amazing adventures. They adventured together for thousands of hours over the years. Marilyn loved it all. She loved Diamond Runs in Darkness Falls. She loved gathering with up to a hundred people to plunder the depths of Tuscaren Glacier and fighting the 20 foot tall giants inside. She loved Aerlinthe, sparkly blue armor, and bow and arrows.
Marilyn’s gift for charming people was extraordinary, from the nurses who constantly praised her attitude and courage to our friends we played online games with. She was followed from game to game by almost everyone who adventured with her. She was sought out by friends and family for her wisdom and decision making, offering marital advice, life lessons, and general counsel on all subjects. Her reputation for this was legendary. She was sought out over and over by people who had found her advice sound and trusted her to help them again.
She was loved by all who met her. In intensive care after surgery, the nurses called her “our little princess” and informed her husband that patients like Marilyn inspired them to go into nursing, to take care of people as nice as her. As a frequent visitor to McClure 6 in Fletcher Allen Hospital, many of the nurses referred to her as their favorite patient. They all went far above and beyond care that was needed to make her comfortable and happy. She charmed everyone she met with her courage and spirit.
Her favorite movies were Love Potion Number 9, Pretty Woman, Beauty and the Beast, True Lies, Terminator II, Dirty Dancing, The Matrix, Shallow Hal, Serenity, Michael and The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
Her Favorite TV shows were Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Firefly, Will and Grace, American Idol and The Ultimate Fighter.
She is survived by her husband Jamie Wakefield and their four dogs; Merlin, Morganna, Thor, and Nikki.
She is survived by her parents Raymond and Betty Whitaker and her brothers Edward and Bruce.
Been a while since I've been on the site, and as luck would have it, it's on this eventful anniversary. I'm sure it's hard to believe it was already three years.
ReplyDeleteBoth you and Mare are in my thoughts today.
Wow, I had no idea Timbermare was a tribute card. That is very cool.
ReplyDeleteThis was a very touching blog post. I admire your courage, Jamie.
Weird.
ReplyDeleteSo much has happend since then.
It was from the fall out of this event that got me to thinking thoughts I would not normally think. I read Jamie's thoughts and then his thoughts on moving to spain.
It was Marilyn that caused me to not turn away from the idea of living on a boat as "just another pipe dream"
Yesterday I sat with my family and friends anchored off a lovely beach and watched the dolphins swim past.
Here's to ya Marilyn. This sundowner is for you.