Obituary of Marie Meren
MEREN, Teresa ‘Marie’ (née Cauz)
Marie has gone to the next world, taking a seat at the table alongside loved ones waiting for her. Surrounded by family, Marie passed away peacefully on October 30, 2025, in her 92nd year.
Marie had and lived a good life. She was predeceased (2023) by John, her sweetheart of fifty-three years. Wholly committed to each other to the end, both were diagnosed with the same sort of cancer within two years of one another, both saw their illness play out similarly, and Marie passed almost two years to the day after John. Those they leave behind take great comfort in the idea of their reunion.
Marie leaves behind her children, David and Laura, who during her lengthy illness had the privilege of repaying a portion of the love and devotion she showered on them throughout their lives. She is mourned by her loving sister Bev Polci, who feels deeply the loss of her friend, and predeceased by her brother-in-law Fred. Marie was a loving and ever-present “Auntie” to their children Victoria (Tom), Chris (Sara), Fred (Hedy) and Jennifer (Laura). She is also survived by her brother, Lou, whose children Carrie, Michelle (Kevin), David (Marie), Jason (Gina), Matthew (Amy) and Josh (Krista) will also miss Auntie. Predeceased by sister-in-law Mary Lou, with whom she retained contact and great affection. She is mourned by her sister-in-law Rose Behr and her children Linda (Jim), John and Connie (Sebastian). She was a devoted great-aunt and great-great-aunt to many nieces and nephews, a lifelong friend of Dianne Dunn (Leo), and honorary aunt to their children.
The daughter of Louis and Alberta Cauz, Marie was born May 5, 1934, in Hamilton, Ontario. She spent many happy childhood days at 208 Ray Street North before the family moved to Duke Street. Upon graduating from Westdale Collegiate in 1951, she worked as a stenographer in the real estate department at National Trust Company, climbing the ranks for sixteen years before moving to Fidelity Mortgage and Savings Company as the supervisor in its mortgage department. In a different time or circumstance, Marie would have likely gone to university; a voracious reader, deeply curious and an avowed news junkie, she delighted in learning about current events, history, nature and biology (to the extent she was fascinated by the nature and development of her illness). Marie was a lover of the arts, recalling fondly performances of the Metropolitan Opera staged at Maple Leaf Gardens, Broadway plays in New York, and the wonder that came from encountering the work of Jean-Paul Riopelle in Montreal. Marie loved to travel; visits to Québec, New York, Washington, Bermuda and pre-revolutionary Cuba set the stage for a memorable trip to Europe, where she met her Italian relatives in Friuli-Venezia Giulia. Although they did not travel quite as much as she might have liked, Marie treasured deeply the journey she and John set out on in 1970, building a marriage, a home and a family in London, Ontario. Finally, it must be said that Marie loved food. She delighted in the pleasure of eating, of sitting at the table with family and friends, and of going back for a second helping. She kept a very healthy appetite to the end, and it was lovely to see her thrill over the plates put in front of her.
Marie’s family are sincerely grateful to surgeon Nawar Alkhamesi and oncologist Chris Goodman, whose respective skills gave us as much time as we had with her. We recognize with thanks the staff and doctors of LHSC, notably the London Regional Cancer Program, who helped Marie to not just confront her illness but also to enjoy her final years. We are especially grateful and in awe of her palliative care support team: nurse Amanda Williams and doctor Baraa Achtar were pillars of support, kindness and compassion, as was her care coordinator Jennifer Dejong. Together with the support of her children, they ensured Marie was able to stay in her home for as long as she did. Finally, we express our deep thanks to the staff of St. Joseph’s Hospice of London, especially nurse Jaime, for embracing Marie and her family with compassion and understanding as she lived her final days.
Cremation has taken place. Visitors will be received at John T. Donohue Funeral Home, 362 Waterloo Street, on Thursday, November 6, from 7-9 pm. A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Peter’s Cathedral Basilica, 196 Dufferin Avenue, on Friday, November 7, at 2 pm.
In lieu of flowers, Marie invites you to donate to St. Joseph’s Hospice of London, the Alice Saddy Foundation, the London Health Sciences Foundation, or the Canadian Cancer Society.
