Obituary of Marion Eloise MacInnis

Marion Eloise MacInnis died peacefully at Glen Haven Manor, New Glasgow on May 1, 2020. The care and compassion given to Marion by the staff of Glen Haven made her passing as peaceful as it was. We have these wonderful people to thank for how well they looked after our Marion. Marion was the cherished sister of Mary MacInnis and Lynn MacDonald and is leaving, having made many happy memories with her nieces, Carly MacDonald (Stephen), Beth Leadbetter (AJ) and Emma Smith (Tracey), as well we many grandnieces and grandnephews. She leaves to mourn her death her brother-in-law Frank Smith and was predeceased by her brother-in-law Wayne MacDonald. The daughter of the late Henry and Iris (McEntee) MacInnis both of whom were from PEI, she had spent many happy vacation days at her uncle’s farm in Emerald PEI. As a child she had long brown braids and a spat of freckles on her nose which earned her the nickname “Bean” or “Beanie”. In the family it came to be noticed that if you referred to her as “Marion” you must have first met her professionally through her work, but if you called her Bean, then you were either an actual relative or one by proxy. Her nieces always called her Beanie as did their friends. Graduating from high school at the young age of 17 she went on to study to become an Xray Technologist at the Victoria General Hospital in Halifax, graduating from the program in 1969. She then accepted a position at the hospital in Truro and remained there for 10 years, leaving in 1979 to work at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Charlottetown. In 1983 she accepted a position with the Diagnostic Imaging Department in the Inuvik Regional Hospital, Inuvik NWT and remained there for the next 32 years. During her tenure there she rose to be the department’s Manager. At one point in her career she took educational leave to become an accredited Sonographer. She then returned to Inuvik as the Department’s Manager, as well as doing xrays, ultrasounds and mammograms. She had terrific business sense and at one time she managed the budgets of four departments within the hospital. Lifelong learning was the path she chose, and she added to her knowledge throughout her career by attending conferences as well as professional courses and seminars all over North America. At the hospital she oversaw the department through the building of the new Regional hospital and she was instrumental in the installation of the new PAC system installed between Inuvik and Yellowknife. If you looked up the phrase ‘work ethic’ Marion’s picture should be there – she was the very epitome of what dedication to excellence in a profession means. At one point during her tenure in Inuvik, she worked for over two years alone in the department, with the assistance of her clerk, doing everything required to serve the people of Inuvik and the NWT. She regularly recruited technologists to come in to help in the department and would make a personal effort to ensure each technologist had great accommodations and a good impression of Inuvik, to encourage them to fall in love with the North they way that she had. Marion liked and respected the people of Inuvik and the NWT. She enjoyed the festivals and community feasts held each year. She enjoyed the many different cultures that make up the community of Inuvik. She loved to support local artist and help promote their work. Beanie loved to shop, travel and read all of which she did in abundance. She loved her nieces and all the children of her friends and family members. She was tireless around them, playing with them, reading to them, feeding them, making sure they were safe. In so many ways she loved and cared for all of us, nonjudgmental, giving advice when asked for it. She loved and supported her family and friends her entire life. From high school to the end of her life she kept the friends she made and cherished them, as they did her. “Grief never ends, but it changes. It is a passage, not a place to stay. Grief is not a sign of weakness nor a lack of faith – it is the price of love.” And so we grieve for the loss of our Beanie, our Marion, but we rejoice for the happiness and love we shared. Cremation has taken place. Services will be held at a later date in Summerfield, PEI. angusfuneralhomes.com