It is with great sadness that the family of Marilyn Trenholme Counsell announces her passing on June 17, 2026, in Sackville, New Brunswick.
Marilyn’s life was long, fulfilling and deeply meaningful. She was profoundly grateful to each person whose friendship and support meant more to her than words can describe. Her faith was the foundation of her strength. She loved to welcome family and friends to her home and cottage with homemade pies, rolls and especially Christmas fare. To the end she loved Maritime fiddle music, especially Ivan and Vivian Hicks and the Sussex Avenue Fiddlers.
She was predeceased by her parents, Harry and Mildred Trenholme, her special friend, Prof. Peter Bishop, and her husband, Kenneth Counsell, a journalist and Citizenship Judge.
She leaves her beloved son, Giles, his devoted wife, Ashley, and her precious grandsons Benjamin Kenneth and Nicholas Giles, and her beloved daughter, Lorna Joy. She is survived by her brother, Harry Trenholme and his wife, Charlotte, as well as their daughters, Darlene, Joanne, Heather and Krista and their families, as well as many other cousins, nieces and nephews.
Marilyn loved school, especially the two room school in Baie Verte and Port Elgin Memorial School. She attended Mount Allison University (BSc 1954), Cornell University (Biology 1963), University of Toronto (MA 1960, MD 1967), graduating with high honours. She became a dietitian at the Royal Victoria Hospital inMontreal in 1955. Her medical training was completed at the Toronto General Hospital where she later practised and was associated with the University of Toronto’s Medical Faculty (1968-1977).
In 1977, she moved with her family to Sackville, New Brunswick, and served as a family physician inSackville and Port Elgin, and Sackville Memorial Hospital (1977-1994). Her practice was welcoming to patients including Mount Allison University students; she was known as "the house call doctor"!
Prior to medicine, she served as a nutritionist with the governments of New Brunswick and Ontario. In 1987 she answered the call to public service and thereafter in her words "went through many open doors on the road less travelled". Elected the first woman MLA for Tantramar in 1987, reelected in 1991 and 1995, she joined the McKenna government, serving as Minister of State for the Family and Minister of State for Family and Community Service (1994-97). In 1997, she was appointed Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick by Prime Minister Jean Chretien (1997-2003) and named to the Senate of Canada (2003-08). She lectured at Mount Allison University on Political Leadership in Canada (2009-13).
As Lieutenant Governor, she reopened Government House, Fredericton, as "The People’s House", welcoming thousands of visitors annually including children and their families for ice cream sundae parties. She called upon her fellow citizens to help each child achieve her/his full potential and offered Lieutenant Governor’s Story Hours throughout New Brunswick. With IODE she took Born to Read/Goût de lire province wide. A children’s gallery filled the walls outside her office and Christmas at Government House brought old fashioned traditions alive. The new century was welcomed there, December 31, 1999-January 1, 2000 with a grand ball, Indigenous dances and Maritime fiddling.
Marilyn was committed to community organizations, far too many to list. In recent years, she remained dedicated to the Literacy Coalition of New Brunswick, Atlantic Ballet Moncton, Vanier Institute of the Family, and Early Literacy Friends (ELF). In 1987 as MLA, she founded the Sackville Food Bank, and a special recreation program for challenged youth.
Marilyn received many honours including the Alpha Omega Alpha Honourary Medical Society, from the University of Toronto, Honourary Degrees fromUniversité de Moncton, Mount Allison University and University of New Brunswick, Officer of the Order of Canada, Order of New Brunswick, Grace Annie Lockhart Commemorative Award from Mount Allison University, CMA Sir Charles Tupper Award for Political Action in Canada, Dr. William Roberts Award for Political Action in New Brunswick, Championship of Public Education Award (The Learning Partnership), Women of Distinction Awards YWCA and Hadassah WIZO, Peter Gzowski Award, Life memberships in the NBMS, NBTA, IODE, OES, and New Brunswick School of Craft and Design. She was a Paul Harris Fellow, Dame of Grace Order of St. John of Jerusalem, recipient Atlantic Ballet Canada Founders Award and the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal. During the International Year of the Family and in recognition of her work as Minister of the Family she accepted an award from the United Nations on behalf of the province of New Brunswick.
In later years she enjoyed her home and cottage, the visits of her grandsons, family and friends, reading and discussing current events and changing times. She never wavered in her belief in democracy and continued her parents’ commitment to service of community. She was inspired by Mother Teresa "We can do no great things, only little things with great love".
Her life will be celebrated at her funeral service on Friday June 26th at 2pm at Mount Allison University's Marjorie Young Bell Convocation Hall, 37 York Street, Sackville, New Brunswick. Reception to follow at thePurdy Crawford Centre for the Arts, 152 Main Street,Sackville, New Brunswick.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Jones Funeral Home, 70 Bridge Street, anne Sackville, NB (506-364-1300).
Remembrances will be appreciated for the Sackville Food Bank, the Dr. Marilyn Trenholme Counsell Literacy Awards through the Literacy Coalition of New Brunswick, or The Marilyn Trenholme Counsell Award for Community Service TRHS.
Sharing of memories and condolences may be sent to Marilyn's family by visiting the online memorial at www.jonesfuneralhome.ca or through the Jones Funeral Home Facebook Page.