Obituary
Marietta passed away peacefully on Sunday March 29, 2026, in Toronto ON. Marietta was born and raised in Hamilton ON; she later moved to Guelph ON and then Toronto ON.
Marietta was a mother, a grandmother, a great-grandmother, a cousin, an aunt, a great-aunt, and a friend and neighbour to many. She was generous and warm, always interested in the lives of others. Marietta was especially interested in young people, as a teacher, a Nanni to Emily, Jonah, Oliver and Oscar, and, more recently, as a great grandmother. Marietta was committed to convening gatherings of the extended Turnbull family and to staying in touch with dear friends. She very much looked forward to the annual Haliburton birthday weekend, with the Van Soest’s and the Phipps’.
Marietta was fond of dinner parties, cottage weekends, gin and tonics, Frank Sinatra, reading to kids, chicken paprikas, gingerbread, music, tea, gardening, nature, lobster, Indonesian food, baseball (Go Jays!), chocolate, and, more recently, coffee with old-fashioned plain donuts. She always loved a good laugh and her wry humour was mischievous and distinctive. Marietta was vibrant and always full of fun and adventure.
Together with John and then Ted, Marietta raised Rob and David to be self-reliant, independent and strong. Marietta pulled this off while navigating the late 1960s and 1970s – an era of profound societal change and adjustment.
Many thanks are due to many, many caregivers at St. Michael’s Hospital, Providence Health, St. Joseph’s Hospital, and Women’s College Hospital. The family wishes to acknowledge the staff of the Delmanor Prince Edward, especially the staff of the second floor.
Marietta’s request was for a celebration of life, which will be planned for summer 2026, date TBD.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to a charity that supports services to children and youth, or that is involved in the stewardship of the natural environment. One such charity is Sirch, based in Haliburton ON (https://www.sirch.on.ca/).
