MARIANNE HODGSON (nee CURLETTE) On August 29, 2018 Marianne Hodgson, age 82, passed away peacefully at St. Boniface Hospital, surrounded by her loving family and close friends. Marianne was many things to many people, a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, health care professional, fierce bridge player, condo board president, care giver to many and friend to all. Born on March 22, 1936 in Calgary, AB, she was the second daughter of Edward (Pops) Thompson Curlette and Pauline Edythe Glassford Curlette. Marianne had three siblings, Barbara MacDougall (Don MacDougall deceased), her brother Edward Curlette (deceased) (Cathy Curlette), and Caroline Scott (Jon Scott). Marianne is survived by her loving husband of 59 years, Colin Hodgson, her son Timothy Hodgson (Linda Netten), son Mark Hodgson (Donnarae Thompson), and daughter Sharon Hodgson (Jim Pecka). Marianne has six grandchildren: Alexandra and Meggie Hodgson, Corryn and Samantha Hodgson, Russell and Colin Pecka. Though she was born in Calgary and lived in Nelson, BC in her early years, Marianne was a fiercely proud Winnipegger, moving there in 1948. She was extremely proud of her adopted Fort Garry neighbourhood, attended General Steele School and graduated from Viscount Alexander Collegiate Institute in 1953. She attended the University of Manitoba for one year in 1953, before she and her best friend Eleanor Wattis (nee Harvey) enrolled in the Nursing Program at the Winnipeg General Hospital. This launched her lifelong passions for helping and comforting sick and injured people as well as the reform of health care delivery in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. In 1959, she married the love of her life Colin Hodgson. For the next 26 years, Marianne led the nomadic life of R.C.A.F. officer's wife. Over those years Colin and Marianne had their three children while moving 17 times with stays in London, ON, Toronto, ON (twice), Gypsumville, MB, Barrington Passage, NS, Duluth, MN, Holberg, BC, Winnipeg (times six), Washington, DC, and Ottawa. While in Washington, she returned to nursing and worked in the emergency room of the Children's National Medical Center in Washington, DC. In 1980 she graduated with a Bachelor of Nursing degree from the University of Manitoba and in 1985 her Master of Health Administration degree from the University of Ottawa. In 1985, she became the director of patient care at the Regina General Hospital. In 1988, she became the President of the Saskatchewan Registered Nurses Association (SRNA). In 1990, she became the Executive Director of SRNA. During that time, she was asked by the Government of Saskatchewan to serve on their task force to reform the provincial health care system. In 1992, Colin and Marianne built their dream home/cottage in Clearwater Bay (Kenora), Ontario on Lake of the Woods. This cottage became the focal point their social life in Canada where they hosted many high school and nursing school reunions, Hodgson family Christmases, birthdays, and holidays that kept many that she loved connected to one and other. In 1997, Colin and Marianne Googled "perfect weather" and shortly thereafter began spending their winter vacations in Ajijic, Mexico. Birds of Paradise condo complex became their winter home. At the urging of most of the residents, she became the President of the Condo Association. In retirement, Marianne renewed her love for Contract Bridge. She was passionate about the game and became a Life Master. She was an avid tournament player between her summer and winter sojourns in Winnipeg and Ajijic, Mexico. The Hodgson family would like to thank all those people who have reached out and expressed their love for Marianne. We all know she lived life to the fullest and made the world a better place. She believed that nursing was the noblest of professions and believed Fort Garry girls ruled. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Canadian Nurses Foundation (Cnf-fiic.ca)

As published in the Winnipeg Free Press on Sep 08, 2018