Monday, November 21, 2022
Dear Tita Gina, Vinah, Vaughn, and families,
We were saddened to hear of Marvin’s death. Marvin was an intelligent, hardworking, dedicated, and grateful man.
My family first met Marvin and Tita Gina when they were expecting their first child, Vinah. Tita Gina had terrible nausea due to her pregnancy, and was finding it difficult to gain weight to help support a growing baby. She was hospitalized, and my mom, being a dietician at the hospital, was sent to assess her situation. It was there that my mom first met Marvin and Tita Gina, and it was decided that good Filipino food would help bolster Tita Gina’s appetite. Tita Gina’s nausea stopped, and the baby grew into the lovely Vinah.
The connection and friendship between the two families also grew and flourished. On our wedding, Vinah and Vaughn were our ring bearer and flower girl. At our rehearsal dinner, Marvin had a conversation with my husband-to-be (Ian) and our usher (Frank). Frank was interested in farming and was about to purchase land. They spoke about farming techniques, politics, and the farming lifestyle. Ian and Frank thoroughly enjoyed their conversation with Marvin, and both thought that Marvin had given a fair and balanced view on the topics at hand. They told Marvin that he was one of the smartest men that they had ever met, and would have liked to have continued the conversation at length.
Another time, when we would drop by the farm, Marvin as usual was working. When I asked him if he ever rested he said, “only when I sleep”. When we would ask to borrow Vinah and Vaughn for a few days, Marvin would rearrange his schedule to cater to our request, at times dropping off the kids enroute to Ottawa and Montreal to deliver duck eggs.
After my dad died, I spoke to Marvin about the old times and life in general. He opened the conversation by telling me of his gratefulness for the friendship they shared with my family. He spoke of “the smartest decision he had made, that being to marry the lovely Gina”, and how our lives intertwined. He was proud of the people his kids grew into. He knew that his time was limited as he had defied the odds already, and that time was fleeting. Yet, he was grateful for each second he had with his family.
The stars shone brighter the night Marvin died. RIP Marvin.
Much love to the McLean family.
Theresa and Ian Martin
