Obituary of Marilynn "Lynn" Grace Emerick (nee Smith)

June 30, 1941 – May 2, 2026

Lynn passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 2, 2026, at her residence at Sunnyside Long Term Care where she had been a resident for almost 5 years.

Lynn was born in Niagara Falls, Ontario, in June of 1941, the eldest daughter of the late Alfred E. Smith and Mary Grace Smith (nee Davidson). She is survived by her loving husband Don, sister Diane (Bob) Leamen, sister-in-law Marion (Walter) Matt, brother-in-law Philip (Mary) Emerick and many nieces, nephews, grand and great-grand nieces and nephews.

Lynn’s father was transferred along with the family to Chatham where Lynn attended public school and then attended “The Pines”, where she learned all they had to offer as a secretary. Upon graduation she was hired to work at the head office of Western Freight Lines and started as a secretary to the Sales Manager. She was a member of Beta Sigma Phi in Chatham and a member of Victoria Avenue United Church.

In February of 1964, she met Don through a blind date going to a Valentine’s Dinner and Dance. That date began a lifelong love affair with marriage in July of 1965 until her passing.

Lynn’s interests included dancing, shopping, travelling as well as shopping, and when possible, travel. She was a joint wage earner as neither Lynn or Don had high paying jobs, but they had a wonderful life together enjoying what was offered to them and what they could raise money to do.   

In 1994, Don was transferred to Mississauga for work and for two years it was a weekend marriage. In 1995, Lynn’s company sadly downsized, so she decided to take a computer course that had been offered by her former employer. In 1996, she and Don decided the weekend marriage was not what they wanted, so they moved in January of 1997 to Waterloo and Don drove back and forth to Mississauga for 5 years, while Lynn went to work as a billing clerk for another trucking company. When Lynn reached the magic age of retirement, she enjoyed puttering around the house and flower beds.

In 2018, after a knee replacement, she started having other health problems. Without Don being able to either lift her or care for her at home, in 2021 just at the end of Covid, she went to live in the Sunnyside Long Term Care Facility. Up until her passing, she still had her sense of humour, compassion and faith.  

She was a very loving, supportive and caring wife and will be forever in Don’s memory, and he shall miss her greatly as his life has always been directed around her.

The family thanks all the staff at Sunnyside for taking such good care of her while she was there. She loved all of you as much as all of you loved and took care of her.

Lynn is resting at the Erb & Good Family Funeral Home, 171 King Street South, Waterloo where visitation will be held on Monday, May 11, 2026, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Another visitation will be held on Tuesday, May 12, 2026 from 10:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m., with the Funeral Service to begin at 11:00 a.m. in the funeral home’s chapel, with Rev. Dr. Frank Szatmari from Calvin Presbyterian Church officiating. Lynn will travel to her final resting place in Bothwell, Ontario on Thursday afternoon.

In lieu of flowers, donations to The Cryptic Rite Charitable Foundation Inc., the Sunnyside Foundation, or a charity of your choice may be arranged through the funeral home at 519-745-8445 or www.erbgood.com.