June 21, 1911 – September 15, 2015
At Wentworth Lodge on Tuesday, September 15, 2015, in her 105th year, beloved wife of Lt. Col. John Farnan (deceased), loved mother of John (deceased) and his wife Dina, daughter Mary and her husband Bruce Comba, loved grandmother of Margaret Walton (Bruce Peart), Beth and husband John Taylor, Andrey Koroscil (deceased), Sasha and husband Patrick Ellwood, Serge Koroscil, great grandchildren Cameron Taylor, Jamie (Brandon) Maddick, Jason Walton, Bruce Ellwood, and great great granddaughters Lily Walton and Livia Maddick. Survived by her loving sister Carolyn Stephens and her sons Peter (Caroline), Michael, and James (Julie). Member of The Duet Club of Hamilton, Women’s Committee of the Art Gallery of Hamilton, and Life Member of the Travel Club of Dundas. Co-founder of the Dundas Valley School of Art, past Chair of the Board of DVSA, member of the Board for 48 years and author of DVSA The First Forty Years, a Memoir. As a result of her dedication to the arts, she was awarded the City of Hamilton’s Citizen of the Year for the Arts Award, Hamilton Woman of the Year in the Arts, the Spectator Award for Service to the Arts, an Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from McMaster University, an Honorary Diploma in Fine Arts from DVSA, Dundas Citizen of the Year, and a Paul Harris Fellowship from the Rotary Club of Dundas. Our gratitude to the staff of Trillium Court at Wentworth Lodge for her care. A memorial will be held at the Dundas Valley School of Art on Sunday, September 27th at 2:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Dundas Valley School of Art would be greatly appreciated.
It has been a privilege to have know Marion for many many years. She was remarkable in her contributions to our community and such a good friend to so many.
Fondly remembered,
Joyce and John
I have nothing but good memories of the times I spoke to Marion.
Beth and John, sorry I had not met your grandmother. From everything I’ve read she was an extraordinary woman. She has left us a wonderful legacy.
I didn’t really know Marion well, but I’ve been a teacher at the school for 29 years. I have great respect for what she achieved. I hope her spirit lives on. My sincerest condolences.
A wonderful role model. She will be missed.
Marion was a woman for all seasons. She recruited me to come on the DVSA Board, and taught me what dedication to art is all about,- commit to hard work, and to exploring new ideas, know you will have disappointment and delight, but above all celebrate your art with passion and joy. I will miss her smile. She has left a legacy to us all, and we must take care of it.
I feel so blessed to have known such a vibrant and inspiring spirit.
We have so much to thank her for.
So nice to have known her and she will be remembered dearly.
Janice Peshke
To Dina and family.
Marion’s presence will be sorely missed, it was our honor to care for Marion in her final days. She made an impact on each of our lives, one that will last a life time.
We will miss her wonderful example and delightful personality. She was a fine lady who made a difference. Would that we could all be like her.
Marion was a inspiration to many people. She changed many lives with her vision. Her presence will be missed.
Fondly remembering Marion, “A Life Well Lived”
Erna Kampics and Family
I have just now (Nov. 6th) read the obituary notice of Marion Dell Smith Farnan. My sympathies to the family of that remarkable woman, who accomplished so much in her long and fruitful life!
The late John Farnan of Dundas, son of Marion Dell Smith Farnan, was the great grandson of Michael Birrell, baker, of Dundas, Ontario. Michael was my great-grandfather. His son William was my grandfather, who owned the Hamilton Dairy on Vine Street. My father was his youngest son, Albert Birrell. Unfortunately those descendents lost track of each other. I am in touch with some of Michael’s other family, through his son The Rev. Peter Birrell, grandson Herbert Birrell, great-granddaughter Lois Birrell Morrill, and her children who now live in upstate New York.
We would all be pleased to hear from any family members who are interested in sharing genealogy information. I was born and raised in Hamilton, and now live in Toronto. I can be contacted by email at: adriennepollak@mac.com