Marilyn Alma Woodruff
March 8, 1936 – October 22, 2020
On October 22, 2020, Marilyn Woodruff passed away in her home at age 84. Marilyn is survived by her husband of 63 years, Rev. Howard Woodruff, her children, Wendy and Daniel; grandchildren, David, Katherine (Nathan Smith), John and Rebecca: daughter-in-law Carolyn; brother Douglas Gurel (Joan) and sister Eleanor Gabriele (Cos). She was predeceased by her parents Otto and Martha Gurel.
Marilyn was born in Edmonton. Her family moved to Victoria in 1942; she was raised in Victoria and Vancouver. Marilyn accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Saviour as a child. She faithfully served the Lord for the remainder of her life.
At 18, she attended Canadian Bible College in Regina, Saskatchewan intending to become a foreign Missionary, graduating in 1957. It was here where she met her husband Howard. Marilyn and Howard were married in 1957; Howard was a pastor with the Christian & Missionary Alliance Church and served in Sturgis, Saskatchewan, Trail, BC, Hanna, Vermilion, Devon, and Peace River before retiring to Edmonton in 1997. Marilyn was an active member of Beulah Alliance Church for the past 23 years.
Marilyn’s life revolved around her family and the church. She loved music and for many years taught music lessons in her home. She enjoyed classical music and attended the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. She played piano and organ for church services from her teen years until the last year of her life. As a wife of a pastor, Marilyn was involved in all aspects of local church ministry; teaching children’s church, Vacation Bible Schools, Pioneer Girls and cooking at Summer Camps.
She loved gardening, cooking and baking, entertaining in her home and organizing pot-luck dinners and other social events. There was rarely a Sunday dinner in her home where guests were not included. She was always involved in either hosting or preparing food for family dinners on every holiday or family birthdays, the last one being Thanksgiving 2020 which she prepared and hosted the Thanksgiving turkey dinner for her children and grandchildren. In her retirement years, Howard and Marilyn enjoyed meeting with friends for coffee, sometimes several times per week.
Although shocked by her sudden passing, Howard and her children are comforted by knowing that she is with her Lord and Saviour.
Due to Covid-19 restrictions, there will be a private funeral service for the family and friends. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Ambrose University, Canadian Bible Society or YONA Sistema Program of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra.
To sign the book of condolences, please visit www.trinityfuneralhome.ca/obituaries
My sincere condolences on the passing of Marilyn.
I remember having several meals with your family in Vermilion, what a good cook she was.
May it be of comfort knowing other are think of you.
Marilyn was a great family friend and will be greatly missed. My dad, Mark, of course knew her since childhood and she was friends with my grandma Millie. Jade and I spent a lot of time with Howard and Marilyn, especially when we were kids or dad helped fix things, like computer stuff, around the house. In a way, Marilyn was like a grandmother-figure to us. She taught us how to bake and was always concerned about how things were going in our lives.
Condolences to Dan and the grandchildren.
Alongside our feelings of sadness, we also feel happy to have known Marilyn. Her positive influence on our lives has been significant: child care, piano teacher, home economics advice, grief support to name a few. She could also be counted on to provide common sense solutions to many of life’s problems. Our fond memories of Marilyn will be with us always. Our sympathies are extended to her family.
For myself and on behalf of the Members of The Korea Verterans Association Unit 21 Edmonton our Heart felt Condolences on your Great Loss. We have fond memories of meeting Marilyn at our Cease Fire Parades on the Grounds of the Alberta Legisture. God Bless You and Be Strong.
We send our deepest condolences to Wendy and her family. We pray that the Holy Spirit will comfort you all during this grievous time.
Thank you so much for your kind words and prayers. It is a horrific shock. I also really appreciate your memorial donation. Mom loved scripture and would be very pleased to know scriptures are being sent in her memory.
Wendy
Hi Wendy I remember your father & mother and working at the Bible camps !
My condolences to and family
Please pass this to your brother & Father
Al Dawes
Marilyn has literally been a part of my whole life. I can think of so many memories through the years where she appears. Of course there were the early years in Vermilion. Then meals and overnights as a family in Devon. Now even in returning to Edmonton with my own family Marilyn has continued to support and be interested in our lives. One of the recent times we saw them was at Ambrose. Not eager to drive in the city of Calgary but wanting to be there, they persevered. That characterizes Marilyn. Never give up. Faithful to the end. Can’t hardly imagine what it was like to cook for a whole camp full of kids on a wood stove!
Our thoughts and prayers are with you, Howard. And you as kids Dan and Wendy. She will be greatly missed. Finally she can really rest; all her work is done.
Sorry to hear about Marilyn’s passing. The Woodruffs are the reason I re-dedicated my life to the Lord.
I will see Marilyn again.
Ken Maxwell