Marlene Bennett

Thursday April 17/25 was our Mom’s last day on this earth. Marlene Bennett was born November 22,1942 and was 82 years old.

She had struggled with illness, but was fierce and strong and each time she was able to overcome and often be stronger. This fighting spirit and strength was who she was. Her parents Ottar and Vendla Tandberg, immigrated from Norway and Finland and built their home in Aspdin, Ontario. Mom was the eldest of their 4 girls.

Their cultures stressed the importance of patience, resilience and hard work and appreciating the simple things. This gave Marlene her foundation that I feel guided her through life. She grew up with her sisters, Carol, Irene and Linda on a farm. She rode horses, helped tend gardens, and care for their animals. Linda tragically passed away at age 5.

She went to public school in Aspdin, and left home at the age of 12. From there she went to a boarding house in Huntsville and went with a group of girls to Vineland to pick fruit and make money for a time. She attended high school at Huntsville High School. At age 14-15 she worked in restaurants in Huntsville and boarded with families again. At age 17 she met our Dad, Beverley Bennett. They were married December 26, 1959 in a small ceremony with family. In 1960 Michael was born then Sherri 1962. She had some part time jobs picking fruit in orchards in summer, but mostly she was home with us and it was a difficult few years for them. We moved to Huntsville around 1965 to our house on Bethune Road. There were lots of Bennett family functions and visits to my Mom’s families homes. She started working at Huntsville Planing Mills after my brother and I were in school. Her knowledge, friendly manner and work ethic took her through 37 years there.

She supported my brother and I in our childhood and often made our clothing, baked, would take us to sports and any place we had to be. Later we both went on to college and she helped us with our dreams. She told me that she wanted to go to college to become an RPN, but she never able to fulfill this dream. She made sure we got to college and were ok- always put herself last.

Weddings- she was so proud of us…many memories with Mom and Dad such important role models for us in our lives ahead. Her beloved grandchildren- she was chief baby sitter for my family and helped us to raise our children. Kind hands, loving heart and guidance to help our kids become good humans. She often went to the Casino with my Dad; she loved to read. She did like to travel and she had beautiful gardens. After Huntsville Planing Mills closed, she went on to work at Acme Planing Mills and then Rolston Home Building Centre. She was a valuable, conscientious, dependable and loved co-worker. Work was her hobby in later years/she loved the social interactions she had with her job.

When Dad passed, she had to sell their beloved farm. She had an apartment and for the 1st time in her life she had her own washer/dryer! Also a dish washer (that never got used). Her health declined and she lived with Lyle and Sherri for the last 3.5 years. We were lucky to share that time with her. She was the most beautiful woman- she never went anywhere without “doing her hair and makeup’”. She did a weekly exercise class and often went to the Summit Centre to walk. She would trek out with her walker on our road and the neighbours often stopped to talk with her. She had so much drive, so much desire to do the best she could. Until her last breath ,we surrounded her with family and with love. She always brought us together in love and as she went to heaven, we were honoured to be with her and tell her how much she would be missed, how life would never be the same without her in it- she was our everything.

Marlene will be sadly missed by all her family and friends. Children- Sherri (Lyle) Bullen, Michael (Diane) Bennett. Sisters-Carol(Dave) Jorgenson, Irene(Tony) Smith. Grandchildren- Kyle(Breanne) Bullen, Marlee( Corey) Moore, Brett (Victoria) Bullen, Brandon ( Amanda) Cox, Cassandra (Kyle) Lawrence, Crystal ( Mathieu) Bourgeois. Great Grandchildren: Blake, Bowen, Beckett, Bentley, Corbin, Aubrey, Peyton, Charlotte, Macie, Ryden, Leeland, Willow and Abigail.

A Graveside Service will be held at Hutcheson Memorial Cemetery

on Friday, June 27, 2025 at 2pm.

A Celebration of Life will take place at the Aspdin Community Hall

2626 Aspdin Road, Huntsville, ON from 3:30 - 5:30pm