PLEASE CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FUNERAL SERVICE FOR MARIE
Sloan, Marie
November 11, 1940 - March 25, 2026
Donna Marie Sloan (née Parkinson) passed away peacefully on March 25th, 2026 at Margaret Bahen Hospice in Newmarket, Ontario surrounded by the love of her family. After an advanced breast cancer diagnosis in March of 2025, she lived her final year with the same grace, humour, resilience and zest for life that defined her 85 years.
Marie was born in Windsor, Ontario. She completed high school in Collingwood and then attended the nursing program at Royal Victoria Hospital in Barrie. She loved the operating room and completed additional OR training in Montreal before returning to Collingwood to begin her nursing career. It was there she met a young French teacher, Patrick Sloan, and they were married July 25, 1964 in Alliston, Ontario. In 1966, they settled in Lakefield, Ontario and over the next eight years became the very proud parents of four children. In the early years, Marie stayed home to raise her young family.
Marie had an innate curiosity and a continuous desire to learn and experience new things. Despite returning to full-time nursing, she found time to pursue part-time studies at Trent University, be an active member of Lakefield United Church and run for political office. She served as the Deputy-Reeve of the Village of Lakefield, a representative on the Otonabee Region Conservation Authority and on the board of trustees of St. Joseph’s Hospital. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Trent in 1996.
Marie retired from Peterborough Civic Hospital in 2001 but her adventures continued. She enrolled at the University of Toronto and earned her Master of Divinity in May of 2004. She learned quilting and made hundreds of quilts for cancer patients, never expecting that she herself would one day receive such a quilt. Along with her partner Len, she travelled extensively, including to such exotic locations as Cambodia, Morocco, Botswana, Russia, Egypt, Peru, Greenland and the Arctic. They also enjoyed spending the winter months in Palm Desert, California.
Marie is survived by her beloved children, Kevin (Neshanthi), Michelle (Danny) and Stephanie, and her precious grandchildren, Jared, Noah, Maya, Theo and Wesley. She is also survived by her partner of the last 17 years, Leonard Fertuck, her siblings, Elizabeth and John (Bonnie), many special nieces, nephews, in-laws and friends. She was predeceased by her beloved son Mike (2020), her adored grandson Davis (2000), her parents Charles Wesley (1992) and Elsie (1998), her brother Jim (2019), her husband Pat (1993) and many special in-laws and relatives.
Marie and her family were grateful for the terrific care she received at Southlake Hospital Cancer Centre and especially from Dr. Jenny Peng, Dr. Tatiana Conrad and Dr. Adrianne Lebner. They also extend their sincere thanks to Marie’s caregivers Josephine, Tinesha, Jennifer and Rita.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Quilts for Cancer (Peterborough County) or the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and may be made by contacting the funeral home at www.hendrenfuneralhome.com or by calling 705-652-3355
Friends and relatives may call at THE HENDREN FUNERAL HOMES, LAKEFIELD CHAPEL, 66 Queen Street, Lakefield on Saturday April 4th from 11AM-1PM. A Celebration and Remembrance of Life Service will follow at 1:30PM at Lakefield United Church, 47 Regent Street, Lakefield. A reception will be held at HENDREN FUNERAL HOME, following the service.