Marion Joyce Henders learned first-hand about the priceless nature of health in her early teens, through the untimely deaths of her sister and her father.
Years later, while pursuing one of her great passions, her love of travel, Marion suffered a serious car accident in the U.K., resulting in a severe back injury. She underwent months of rehabilitation, which, while aiding her recovery, left her to deal with chronic pain. Thanks to Marion’s spirit and tenacity, she rose above the pain and continued to live an active, fulfilling life.
Marion also had a talent for making good financial decisions. She was an active and knowledgeable investor who read the Toronto Star every day for stock quotes and was deeply disappointed when these were discontinued. After working in the legal department of Imperial Oil, she switched careers, discovering what would be a lifelong passion for education. She was a guidance counsellor and business instructor at Birchmount Park Collegiate Institute, where many former students still remember her devotion to the school’s music program and her quiet generosity in covering the costs of music-related trips for students who could not afford to travel.
Marion was a tremendously proud Torontonian and was particularly proud of its iconic institutions, such as the University of Toronto and UHN. “She was so excited when Toronto General Hospital was ranked as one of the world’s top five hospitals by Newsweek,” recalls Barbara Henders, speaking on behalf of Marion’s extended family. “She was excited and inspired by UHN’s many firsts and achievements.”
Living on her own, with no immediate family, Marion relied upon the compassionate care she received at Toronto General Hospital and Toronto Rehabilitation Institute. She trusted her health care providers who helped her navigate chronic pain, arthritis, osteoporosis, stroke and heart disease. As Marion aged, she was grateful to the staff at the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute for supporting and enabling her desire to return to the comfort of her home; as she described it, “for giving her hope.”
Marion passed away in 2022, just one week shy of her 97th birthday, after a long, rich and rewarding life of service.
Marion’s bequest to UHN Foundation reflected her belief that investing in world-class research would lead to treatment innovations that improve not only health, but also quality of life. She had no doubt that UHN would lead the way in transforming health care.
No one ever changed the world on their own but when the bright minds at UHN work together with donors we can redefine the world of health care together.
