Tribute to my grandma Marie

Marie Planedin

Jun 26, 1927 - Nov 22, 2016

Our dearest Baboo,

There are not enough words to express all the richness you’ve added to our lives. Baba’s are a gift from God and ours was truly unique: loving, kind, sociable, strong, generous, creative, non-judgmental, outspoken, easy going and feisty.

The last time I saw you I brought your sister Patsy (Marie & Patsy in photo) with me for a visit. It was so sweet to witness the two of you look into each other’s eyes with such affection and love – a bond shared only by sisters.

When I close my eyes and think of you now, I imagine you running barefoot in a field of grass and wildflowers. We will cherish our many memories of you and will love your forever.

Thank you baba: for listening to all my secrets and only sharing with mom the one’s you thought she needed to know; for opening your home and kitchen to our spur of the moment family meals; for allowing us to raid your fridge every time we walked past your place in Goose Creek on the way to choir practice in Krestova; for all the hours you spent dehydrating pears and juicing carrots so we had an abundance of healthy snacks (and your hash browns were the best in the world!); for teaching us about respect for even the smallest of animals by making us release the mice when then were caught in your “mouse hotels”; for brining out our creative side – your house was full of all kinds of curious items like books galore (including ISKRA) and suitcases full of wonderful dress up clothes; for always opening the door to let me crash, at any hour, and for “checking in” on me throughout he night (on your squeaky wheelchair) to make sure I was comfortable and asleep.

When I moved back from Vancouver in 2000 with yet another broken heart, you convinced me to buy your home so that I would always have a place of my own.

I admit it, baba knew best. The truth is she wanted the best for all of us, and she was always on the lookout for the perfect man for me.

I caught on to her plan when she kept insisting that she needed to go to town with me whenever she knew I was heading off on a date. So, she’d tag along and chat him up – you know, “Where are you from? Who are your parents?” all the while she was taking notes.

One day she met a guy at the Mir Centre for Peace in Castlegar who helped her (an elderly lady in a wheelchair) across the parking lot. She was convinced he was the one for me. I spent several years resisting her constant nudges to meet him.

In a moment of surrender I finally agreed to make his acquaintance thinking I’d do it and she’d stop pestering me. Well, my cousin Marje (who was baba’s partner in crime, I’m sure) found a way to introduce us and the rest is history!

Over the years, every time Barry and I would visit baba, she always looked at the two of us with a twinkle in her eye and a mischievous grin, like she knew something that we didn’t.

Even though you may not have been a conventional baba you gave us the opportunity to express ourselves, to ask questions and always accepted our individual perspectives. Your gentle lessons will remain with us…

In conclusion, I’d like to read a small section from baba’s book “My Life as a Doukhobor,” written on December 13, 1999.

“I have looked for what made sense in being a Doukhobor. And it seems that for anything worthwhile you have to pay a price. This is how it has been many times in my life. Whatever I have lived through has been a challenge and I only know that I tried my best. My life has not been lived to impress other people. I have never tried to do anyone a hurt whether it was in my family or in my community. I have questioned what I wish to change about me being a Doukhobor, and I know that I do not want to change anything. I wish to be me, Marie Planedin, Doukhobor. It is a life from the heart, with respect to the earth, and everything on the earth.

Throughout life there is heart value, soul value, genuine value. I love people. In the end I thank God I am a Doukhobor with principles of faith I admire and respect and that’s it. I am glad I am me and have lived a plain life, a simple life, close to the earth…”

Baba, we wish your soul peace, love and freedom on your new journey to God’s heavenly kingdom. We will love your forever.

Love your granddaughter Stephanie