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A loving son remembers his mom, killed in tragic accident

The Sault’s Marilyn Monroe died from injuries suffered after being struck by a vehicle Sept. 16
20170920-Marilyn Monroe supplied photo
Alex Martin is remembering his mother Marilyn Monroe, pictured here, as his best friend who taught him everything he knows. Photo supplied.

Alex Martin wants everyone to know what a special person his mother was.

His mother, Marilyn Monroe, succumbed to injuries suffered after being struck by an out-of-control vehicle near Station Mall’s northwest parking lot Saturday, Sept. 16.

She was 58-years-old.

Marilyn was known as a friendly Sault Ste. Marie Transit Services employee who worked as a customer service agent at the city’s bus terminal.

“She was taken too soon in a very horrible way,” Alex told SooToday, his voice breaking up with emotion.

“It’s hard to express just how amazing a person she was.”

“She was the kind of person who would give anyone the shirt off her back,” Alex said, describing Marilyn’s generosity and thoughtfulness.

“She was the kindest, sweetest person.”

Flags at city buildings were flying at half mast in Marilyn’s honour Wednesday.

“That’s the kind of impact my mom made on everybody,” Alex said.

“From being a child I was very, very close to my mom.”

“Every day I would see her, even just hanging out at her apartment. The door was always open, anybody could come over and talk to her.”

Alex, 29, said his mother was his best friend.

“My mother was a single mom and when I was a child, she made sure I went to the YMCA, to swimming and karate and Sea Cadets, and had a Big Brother for me as a role model.”

“She would sacrifice so I could have a better life, so I could go to the Tim Hortons camp when I was young. She would not get that new pair of shoes if I needed a new pair of shoes. She was that kind of person, she would always do everything for everybody else,” Alex said.

Alex recalled witnessing how Marilyn interacted with customers at the bus terminal.

“She treated every person like they were family. There were kids who would come up and my mom would sit there and help them count their change.”

“One of the city bus drivers drove past our house today as I was walking out the front door. She stopped and spoke to me and expressed her condolences, but then a passenger pulled me aside and said ‘I didn’t know your mother, but she gave my daughter liquorice the other day.’”

“Again, that’s the kind of person my mother was.”  

Alex said he has a support group helping him through this heartbreaking point in his life.

“I have my girlfriend, and my friends. My friends Dan and David Campbell, we’ve known each other for 19 years, my mom was like a mother to them too, and we were there saying our farewells to my mom in the hospital after they took her off life support, and they would not leave my side until I was ready. They stayed with me,” Alex said, adding his grandmother is also here in the Sault.

He is expecting extended family members will travel to the Sault from southern Ontario for Marilyn’s funeral.

Alex currently works as a manager of Bluenotes, a clothing store in Station Mall, and credits Marilyn for passing down the skills and qualities he has.

“Everything I know, everything I’ve learned is because of mom. Who I am is because of my mom, and the type of person she was,” adding he has inherited his kindness and respect for others from Marilyn.

A GoFundMe site has been set up by friends to help Alex with Marilyn’s yet-to-be finalized funeral arrangements. 

 


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Darren Taylor

About the Author: Darren Taylor

Darren Taylor is a news reporter and photographer in Sault Ste Marie. He regularly covers community events, political announcements and numerous board meetings. With a background in broadcast journalism, Darren has worked in the media since 1996.
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