Looking back on my grandmother's life, I'm still impressed by her traveling spirit and love of writing. It serves as a reminder for me to pursue my passions — the very same she had — without reservation. Thank you for the inspiration, Grandma. Your keen intelligence and commitment to the arts will always be remembered.

This morning I turned on my iPhone and found that it had made me a video, entitled Trips to Windsor Over the Years, without my knowledge. It included various photos with our extended families visiting Mom at Royal Oak Village, then Village of St. Clair and Julie and Bill's house over the last nine years since Mom moved to Windsor. There is no doubt that she brought us together as a family after Dad died, multiple times a year, for her caregiving, as well as holidays and family milestones. We three siblings live in Michigan, Colorado and Germany (Japan at one time), yet we always came back together where Mom lived. We each had our job, taking care of Mom, and she was at the center of many trips. Good job, Mom!

Mother also made many strong connections in Windsor, especially at the Village of St. Clair. She would frequently talk about the people who cared for her, who became dear friends. She took great pleasure in writing poems to individuals as a way of reaching out and connecting, as well as exercising her writing skills, which remained important to her till the very end. She'd often say to me, "How many people get poems about them? Not very many! " Though her body often caused her much pain and discomfort, her personal relationships gave her much comfort and support.

I will miss having lively conversations with her about anything and everything, her sharp wit and keen observations, honed as a journalist and writer over many decades. She was a fighter and a strong presence in our lives. We spent more time with her over the last decade than at any time in our adult lives. Marie Gleason was made of North Dakota grit, as she liked to remind us.
If you knew her, you would agree. Love you, Mom!

As hard as it is to lose a loved one, there are a lot of great memories to look back on with Grandma Gleason. Some of my earliest memories are seeing her with Grandpa Gleason in St Johns. I remember the beautiful island, Memorial University and of course... Tim Hortons. However, Grandma's storytelling took me back to Christmas in Jhalawar, Prairie Summers and many other parts of the world. I will never forget many of these stories.

She will be greatly missed - but her memory live on. Love you, Grandma!

On this Mother's Day, I remember all the love and challenges Mom (and Dad) provided us - whether it was at University Village at the University of Minnesota (in our perpetual education mode), visiting family in Fargo or Maude Lake, flying to the island of St. John's (where Memorial University became a second home), or the wonderful Village at St. Clair, where mom gave poetry to many lives. Thank you mom, and love you. Julie

Marie was a remarkable person, a gifted writer, and a good friend. Working with her was one of the highlights of my years at Memorial University of Newfoundland. Condolences on the loss of a wonderful mother.

I am so saddened to hear the news of the passing of Marie. She was beautiful inside and out, she also had the biggest heart. I thoroughly enjoyed and very greatful for every minute I was able to spend with her. She will forever be in my heart, and dearly missed. I have poems written by Marie and a teddy bear given to my daughter that I will forever cherish. My condolences to her family, you are all in my thoughts. Xo

Marie was a dear friend of mine towards the end of her life. She was a very thoughtful person and someone I will always remember through out the course of my life. Even though I did not know Marie for long, her brilliance was not lost on me, she would share poems, stories and her previous works of academia with me. I always admired the determination, attention to detail and historical references of her writings. Often I found myself using encyclopedias after talking with Marie, she challenged me to know more and for that, I thank her. I like to think I taught her a few lessons as well, especially about the health benefits of tomato juice. I'd like to offer the family my condolences and hope that they can find solace in knowing that she had a very positive effect on my life. I will miss her. I will miss our conversations, I will miss her friendship and the family's as well.