A message of Love from Mary Anne's Sister Nancy

My fun loving baby sister who will never be forgotten. The hardest thing I have ever done was to leave her after spending a week in BC, knowing I would never see her again. It was a great comfort knowing she had so many wonderful, loving friends out there for her. I know my Dad was waiting for her when she went "home" on Sept 25.

A message of Love from Mary Anne's cousin Penny

I am Mary Anne's cousin Penny, the only family member besides her girls that Mary Anne had out here in BC, and she was the only family I had here also. Although we didn't see each other a lot in the past years since she moved from Mission to the city, we were always with each other in spirit.

When I first moved out here from Ontario, Mary Anne was living in Mission and she got me a job at a bank and found me a place to live with some mutual friends so I would move to Mission from Chilliwack to be closer to her. We had a lot of good times & bad times together and I loved her like my sister. Our fathers were brothers and died in the same year. Before she got sober, she fought her demons daily, but she conquered them and I have always admired her for her courage and
perseverance.

I was at the hospital the night before Mary Anne passed as was Betty Boop, Amy & Ginger and I am so glad I got to see her again, hold her hand and have a last talk & laugh with her.

She will always be in my heart and I will see her big smile and hear her vivacious laugh all the rest of my life.

Thank you all for doing this awesome site to honor Mary Anne and for having the celebration of her life. I will be there and hope to meet everyone that had such beautiful things to say about a beautiful lady!

A Sweet Message of Love from Sue J.

Just wanted to say that even though I didn't know Maryanne long, she touched my heart and made me feel special whenever we were together. The times belly-dancing when I felt like I had two left feet, she made me feel okay about it! Thank you Maryanne for helping me see that it's okay to just be me!!!!

Love Sue

Our beloved Mary Anne slipped peacefully away on Tuesday September 25.
In celebration of her life and love of life a memorial will be held:





WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 03, 2007
BURNABY LAKE PAVILLION
1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
6371 Roberts
Burnaby BC

Mary Anne at the B.C Sharpee Convention!

I've heard it said that dogs are very good judges of character. Looks like they'd give her 'Best in Show!'

What Kind of Lady rides a Turbo-charged FXR?

The Legendary kind! That's what kind! Mary Anne may be impersonating Elvis, but I'll bet he couldn't even handle a hot bike like that! Mary Anne, you are such an inspiration, I just mightt have to get a Harley next summer....(it'll have to be a fast one, so I can keep up with you, Mary Anne!)

Amy & Mom

Such a beautiful Daughter, and such a proud Mom. Warm and soft and wonderful. Love.

A Message of Love from Gordy T.

First met Mary-Anne in 91 or 92 at the Alano on 6th & 6th....beautiful woman, hard charger, loved her immediately. Got to know her more & more at meetings (Sober Riders )....the mad dashes to Fresco's afterwards, she was never afraid of the
wick...loved her dearly. She helped me tremendously with reintegration after many years locked down, can say with all my heart that I would not be the man I am today, but not for her...love her endlessly. Did a step five with her, would have made a grown man cringe...watched for the change...got nothin but love, part of me died yesterday at 1:30.....I adored her....always will.

Gordy T.

Beautiful Ladies!

Flying High! What a riot!

This is where you'll find Mary Anne, flying high, living life to its very fullest, and reminding us all to do the same!

It ain't no bike helmet......

Mary Anne at Whistler, ready for her zip line adventure.....who else could put on an outfit like that and still look sexy?

Maryannes Smile is contagious!! A message from Betty

What a beautiful soul shining thru that smile. What a gal- a Mother, a friend, a dignified lady and one HELLUVA BIKE RIDER!!

I learned from you following your lead on the bike trying to keep up and I did…you taught me no fear…it is what it is… You are my SISTA in recovery, in womanhood, in loving life, in friendship, and fun…
I cherish the memories we shared riding this year, belly dancing and giggling!! I am posting this blog confirming what a great friend you are!! I have been deeply blessed and privileged to have shared being a part of your life. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.Your smile is radiated in my memory and heart; and will always be a source of comfort and these words you wrote
“Hey Bud,
I just wanted you to know how special you are to me Betty; funny how we got together, and how many ways you have made my life happier. You are such a good friend, I trust you totally and I hope you know that I will always have your back. ...your friend Mary Anne”

Ride on Mary Anne you lived life well, loved well and are well loved… I will continue to celebrate your life and legacy……xoxo your friend Betty Boop

Mary Anne and Betty Boop, Classic Babes!

The laughs, the smiles, the soul and the love. Beautiful and unforgettable, wild and free forever.

Starrlene (Star!) and Mary Anne

All dolled up, and it looks like they had somewhere to go too! Beautiful!

MaryAnne and Don Nesbitt on their old panheads. 1994

A ride for you......

Hey Mary Anne,

You know when we call each other? When we're feeling down, mixed up, in a funk, and we just decide to go for a ride, wherever the road might take us? Well, yesterday, I did just that, and I took you with me too. At 1:00 o'clock in the afternoon, I walked away from my desk at work, got on my bike, and rode like the wind all the way to Cache Creek, and then the back way down through Lillooet, Whistler and finally back home. A twelve hour round trip. But what a ride! The highway up through Fraser Canyon was empty, it was hot and sunny, and the water buffalo was just flying down the highway. It was sublime, and your big crazy smile was shining along with me every moment. And you know, I went way too fast a few times, just to keep up to you Mary Anne, 'cause it's the only way.

Riding high, high as a kite, smiling, living, loving, riding, and riding, and riding. Ride on biker Angel, ride on!

(right to left) Mary Anne, Wilson, Angie, Betty, Heather, Suzanne, and Jacquelin, zip trekking adventure in Whistler

A Message from Jeannie, AKA, 'Wilson'


Maryanne
My friend, what can I say? I have known you for many years but our bond has grown so strong in the past couple. We have shared two Step groups, back to back and many tears, fears, joy and laughter.

I have a picture of you on my desk at work. It is of you, I, Angie, Heather, Betty, Suzanne and Jacquelin on our zip trekking adventure in Whistler. This was taken May 12th of this year, only four short months ago. I can still see you soaring through the air, arms open wide, head back and screaming with laughter.

When I miss you, which will be often, I will look skywards and you will be on your Dyna in the sky, soaring behind the eagles and I will smile.

We took our cakes together last November, you, Angie and I. Larry had divided up a medallion into three pieces. I still carry mine with me as a symbol of our eternal bond.
So for now, farewell, until we meet again and the medallion becomes whole again..

Ride on
All of my Love, Wilson

Just for today, we will sit quietly with Mary Anne.

To all of you who love and adore Mary Anne so deeply, this is a place for her, and for us, to share what we will, a place for our Love's energy to converge in cyberspace. Please feel free to send any stories, comments, photos, poems or whatever, to Joseph at joegilland@shaw.ca, or to Betty, at boopster2003@shaw.ca and we will do our very best to honour all of your love, and post it all here. Let us give our Love and energy freely, for the woman we all love so dearly.


We all send this Love that we share, to a place where Mary Anne can feel all the Love that is going on between us. Infinite waves of Love, radiating out of her and into us all, and from us all back to her a thousand fold. With deep gratitude and honour for the integrity and strength of her beautiful soul! Mary Anne, we love you, with every bit of our souls and spirits, and we are with you, every moment.

This moment, with Mary Anne

Mary Anne is with us, inside of us all. We can hear her laugh, we can feel the warmth of her caring, the intensity of her soul.

Wilson, Mary Anne, Heather, and Angie