Marion M. Dalbec

It is with deepest sadness that we announce the passing of Marion Dalbec on February 21, 2025, at the age of 79. A long time resident of Nashua, NH, she passed surrounded by the love of her three girls after a courageous battle with dementia. She was born in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, and was the loving daughter of Gordon Mayne and Lillian Chateaulois.

Marion loved her children and her grandchildren more than anything else in the world. She spent endless time with them in the pool, attending their sporting events and taking care of them every chance she had. She was so completely supportive, tending to the grandchildren in efforts to make her daughters’ lives easier.

Marion took great pride in a clean house, an impeccably cut lawn and perfectly folded laundry. She loved every chance to travel, whether it was Caribbean cruises, trips to Aruba, excursions with her sister Alice, adventures with her grandchildren or wild day trips off the beaten path with her family.

In the early 80’s, you could find her behind the jewelry counter at Treisman’s in Simoneau Plaza, where it was always service with a smile. As the girls got older, she began working full time at Levesque Family Dentistry, where she worked for over 25 years. She thrived as a Dental Assistant and was known for her warm greetings and friendly persona, always making people feel comfortable and more like family than patients. You could rarely go to Market Basket, Bradlee’s or Rich’s without Marion knowing someone and chatting in the aisles while the kids or grandkids waited “patiently.” She made a positive impact and her contagious smile brought joy and laughter to everyone she met.

Besides Marion’s daughters and grandchildren, her heart will always live on at Blackmore Pond in Wareham, MA. She raised her family there at Memere’s Cottage waking up with the sun and spending countless hours in the water. She would be raking the water’s edge, floating and dancing and sitting by the fire to wind down on summer evenings.

Marion will be missed by everyone she encountered. She loved a good party (or funeral) and was always the first to arrive and last to leave. You could count on her to dress up for every holiday, bring the right amount of bling to every outfit she wore and had the perfect outfit for every occasion. Her home and beautiful backyard was always open to everyone and she believed and lived the motto ‘the more, the merrier.’ She will forever be Gammy, Mom, Mommy, Mama, Sister, Auntie and Friend.

In the last years of Marion’s life, she gracefully succumbed to dementia and remained happy and beautiful as the disease took more and more away from her over time, never stopping smiling and sharing her joy through it all. It is important to recognize Marion’s oldest daughter Kimberly, for all she did to take care of her Mom and enable her to remain in her home on Burnside Street. It would not have been possible without all she and Shawn did for her. As we often said, Kim did for her what others couldn’t. She provided a safe, loving and caring environment for Marion and we are eternally grateful.

Marion is survived and will be deeply missed by her three children, Kimberly Horlick and her partner, Shawn Weaver of Nashua, NH, Nicole Dalbec-Joyal and her husband, Larry Joyal of Merrimack, NH and Danielle Toupin and her husband, Chris Toupin of Nashua, NH; her grandchildren, Joshua Dionne, Amanda Dionne, Emily Horlick, Owen Horlick, Summer Dalbec-Joyal, Lily Dalbec-Joyal, Kendall Toupin, Trinity Dalbec-Joyal and Kason Toupin; her sister, Alice Watson and her husband, George Watson of Fort Meyers, FL; her son-in-law, Mark Horlick; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family members and friends.

In addition to her parents, she is predeceased by her daughter, Kathi Dionne, son-in-law, Jason Dionne and mother-in-law, Kathleen (Memere) Dalbec.

A huge thank you also to Merrimack Adult Day Care for providing such a loving and inclusive place for Marion to spend her days and provide the family with much needed relief. They made her feel like family and were an integral part of her support system.

Relatives and friends are invited to Marion’s Funeral Mass on Friday, February 28, 2025 at 10 AM in the PARISH OF THE RESURRECTION, 449 Broad Street, Nashua, NH. Burial will be held privately. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Marion’s memory to the Merrimack Adult Day Heath Center, 32 Daniel Webster Hwy, Suite 10, Merrimack, NH 03054. For those not able to attend, Marion’s Funeral Mass will be live-streamed and able to be viewed at www.parishoftheresurrection.org.