Marjorie Lucille Friesen (née Brooks) passed away in Red Deer, Alberta  on October 7, 2025 at the age of 66 years. She was the daughter of the late Jean Brooks (née McAllister)  and late Percy Brooks.

Marj is survived by her husband of 39 years, Terry; her children, Abe (Jessie) and Jenny; grandchildren Blake and Rylee; siblings Elaine, Sandra, and Lorne; and an insurmountable number of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and loved ones. She was predeceased by her brother Keith (1975).

Marj was a deeply and unfailingly caring person who would give her time and care to anyone in need. She has quite literally given the shirt off her back (without violating any indecency laws) many times to make sure someone around her was warm, even if she was cold. She would answer a call at 3 a.m. and come running to a friend in crisis. You would never leave her home hungry or thirsty or left wanting for at least one solid belly laugh.

Born in Calgary in 1959, Marj grew up in northern Alberta with her siblings, where music was a steady undercurrent. She and her mom and siblings would often sing songs together and dance in rainstorms — small joys that stayed with her all her life, and which she passed on to her own children. She also loved reading and writing and passed that love on to her daughter as they waxed poetic about how much they admire Stephen King probably too much.

She later moved to Red Deer in 1980, where she began working at Red Deer Regional Hospital. It was there she met Terry, her future husband, who somehow managed to charm her with his long hair and then-trendy moustache (he was also pretty funny). They married soon after and started their family. First came their Labrador, Lady, followed by Abe and then Jenny.

In their West Park neighbourhood, Marj never stopped building the community around her. She had a remarkable gift for finding goodness in people, and the friends she made stayed for life. She built sisterhoods with her coworkers at the hospital and could light up any poker league table, whether she won or lost (though she always preferred to win). Marj also never lost touch with the friends she made in every decade of her life. If you found yourself lucky enough to know Marj, that’s a contract you can’t, and could never want to, get out of.

Marj was the embodiment of sunshine. Her compassion and empathy lifted people up. Her laugh could make you laugh, even when you were mad or grieving or frankly just tired of everything being annoying. And even now, when we’re all grieving and mad at how unfair this all is, remembering her laugh might still make you smile through the tears at least a little bit. Because we lost a good one. But, my god, how lucky we are to have had her.

In following with Marj’s wishes, cremation has taken place. A celebration of her life will be held on Friday, October 24, 2025, at the Bower-Kin Community Centre, 85 – Boyce St, Red Deer AB, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Family and friends are warmly invited to join in sharing stories, laughter, and memories of the woman who made every room brighter just by being in it. Please wear bright colours if you’re up for it, it’s what she would have wanted. But if you feel like you look best in black, that’s totally cool too.

Condolences to Marj’s family may be emailed to meaningful@telus.net. Please indicate “Marjorie Lucille Friesen” in the subject line.

 

Arrangements in care of

 Meaningful Memorials Funeral Service

 A locally owned cremation and funeral provider

serving Red Deer and all of Central Alberta

587-876-4944

• Date : 2025-10-13
• Location : Meaningful Memorials Funeral Service, Red Deer AB "Locally Owned"