With heavy hearts and a lifetime of wonderful memories, we announce the passing of our beloved mother, grandmother, sister and friend, Marian Charlotte Maloney.
Marian was born on August 14, 1937, to Wilburt and Goldie Davis of Minesing, Ontario. One of six children, she grew up alongside her brothers Ross, Ken, Gordon and Glen, and her identical twin sister and lifelong partner-in-crime, Marjorie. Marian was predeceased by Ross, Gordon, Glen and her beloved twin, Marj.
And if you ever knew Marian and Marj, chances are you weren't always entirely sure which one you were talking to.
The identical twins took great pleasure in causing a little harmless confusion wherever they went. They were known to enter and exit rooms at just the right moments, leaving people wondering whether they had just spoken to Marian or Marjorie. They knew exactly what they were doing and undoubtedly enjoyed every minute of it.
Marian's life included a true Irish love story of the Orange and the Green. On October 19, 1963, she married the love of her life, John Joseph Maloney. Together they built a life, raised their family and shared more than three decades of marriage before John's passing on August 28, 1999.
Marian and John were also well known in the hospitality business. Together they owned and operated the Hotel in Mitchell, Ontario, followed by The American Hotel and Doctor J's in Barrie. Their establishments were places where friendships were made, stories were told and, knowing Marian, plenty of laughter could be heard.
But Marian's greatest accomplishment and greatest source of pride was always her family.
She was the loving mother of Mary Ann (Robb Marchildon), Michael, and Sarah Lynne (Warren Jones).
She was an immensely proud grandmother to Chastain, Aidan and Charlotte Marchildon, and Sheighlyn and Kaleigh Pinkney, and happily welcomed Stef, Chastain's wife, and Josh, Sheighlyn's husband, into the family.
Being Grandma was one of Marian's favourite roles.
Weekend sleepovers at Grandma's were something special. Her grandchildren knew they would be loved, spoiled and very well fed. There was Grandma's macaroni and Bravo sauce, plenty of popcorn chicken, and somehow there were always apple fritters waiting for dessert. They weren't elaborate meals, but at Grandma's house, they were favourites and they became the kind of simple memories that last a lifetime.
Marian had a sense of humour that was entirely her own and a laugh that was impossible to resist. When Marian started laughing, everyone around her wanted to laugh too. And the harder she laughed, the more she cried, which of course, only made everyone laugh harder.
That laughter is something her family will hear in their hearts forever.
Marian also possessed a heart that simply couldn't be measured.
Whether someone was leaving after a sleepover, heading away on vacation or simply going home, Marian cried when they left. It didn't matter if you were going away for a night or a month, she loved you enough to miss you before you had even made it out the door.
And then there were the phone calls.
Marian called her family every day just to make sure everyone was okay. Somehow, she always seemed to know when they weren't. She had an almost uncanny sense when one of her children or grandchildren needed her. The phone would ring, or Marian would simply get in the car and come find you.
That was Mom.
She loved fiercely, worried endlessly, laughed loudly and gave everything she had to the people she loved.
Her family will miss the phone calls. They will miss the tears at goodbye. They will miss the macaroni and Bravo sauce, the popcorn chicken and apple fritters, the stories, the twin shenanigans and that wonderful, contagious laugh.
Most of all, they will miss knowing that no matter where they were or how old they became, Mom was always checking to make sure they were okay.
Marian spent a lifetime looking after all of us.
And we will spend the rest of ours loving and remembering her.
Forever loved. Forever missed. And forever our Mom and Grandma.
Visitation will take place at the Steckley-Gooderham Funeral Home, 30 Worsley St., Barrie on Tuesday, September 1st, 2026 from 7-9 pm. Funeral Mass will take place the following day on Wednesday, September 2nd, 2026 at the St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 65 Amelia St., Barrie at 10 am. Interment to immediately follow at the St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery, 208 Sunnidale Rd., Barrie. Following the interment, the family will host a reception at the Barrie Legion 147 at 12:00 noon. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Marian can be made to Hospice Simcoe and are greatly appreciated by the family.
"Special thanks to everyone at Hospice Simcoe for taking excellent care of our mother in her final days."
Online condolences and memories may be shared via www.steckleygooderham.com