Last updated June 5 2025
Chapter 25
Friendships
Marlene liked to say that she did not have a ton of friends, but that the few she had were the best.
Marlene always felt blessed with the friendships she made throughout her life. She loved to quote the saying shown further below and acknowledged that while she had many acquaintances, she could count her true friends on one hand.
Some she made at work locations, some at various events and some via existing friends and family. While the intent is to not exclude anyone as she was a friend to everyone; it is important to publicly list some of the key people that came into Marlene’s life.
1. Dianne Savoy who she met while working at Hopper Electric in Saint John. The laughs and fun they had working there stayed with Marlene her entire life. Thank you, Dianne.
2. Nancy Oulton whom she met early on while Nancy was dating her brother Bruce. Both referring to themselves as the sisser they never had. While living away in Ontario, the visits were numerous and the bond stronger than blood.
3. Valerie and Paul Cyr. Friends through the most difficult times, their impact was ever lasting, thank you both for your support and friendship.
4. Donna O'Neill who shared similar challenges made for a strong friendship. Both blessed with a no-nonsense approach to issues made for quite the pair or as they liked to compare themselves to Thelma and Louise.
5. Pat (Estabrooks) Lambert. A friendship that never wavered and one that came to Marlene's rescue in her time of despair back then and just recently in her greatest time of need.
6. Juanita Boyle another no-nonsense friend who would have done anything for Marlene and she did. Your chocolates and gifts and you as a person was indeed the greatest gift.
Some say that people enter our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. Here’s what they mean. Marlene simply loved this saying and wholeheartedly believed in it.
Friendship comes in many forms. While some people come and go quickly from your life, others stick around until you grow old.
The main idea behind the phrase “reason, season, lifetime” is that all relationships, regardless of their length, have some sort of purpose. They might bring you:
· Reason. This is when a short-lived relationship brings you a benefit or helps you with a realization. It helps you with a specific difficulty you’re facing, either intentionally or unintentionally.
· Season. This is when a relationship accompanies you through a certain period of your life. It lasts for some time and brings you joy and growth. You might learn a lot from the relationship, but it eventually ends.
· Lifetime. This is when a relationship lasts a lifetime.