Obituary of Maryanne Bayliss

Maryanne Bayliss (1938-2025)

 

My best friend, Maryanne Bayliss (nee Knelsen), made her exit on January 28, 2025. 

We spent the morning together: puzzling, laughing, and doing what we do. My brother, Jeff, last saw her at Christmas, where they enjoyed several days together at her place. 

 

Mom was vibrant, totally independent, living in the house she loved, and most importantly - she was happy. At age 86, she was living her best life and for that we are eternally thankful.

 

She was born and raised on the farm by Blumenhof where she was the only girl out of six kids. She started work as a Nurse’s Aide in Vanguard, but the majority of her career was at Cabri Hospital. Mom and Dad made Pennant, SK their home for over 55 years. Retirement was spent side by side with dad. They enjoyed farming mom’s homestead and would often head out for a drive through the countryside to listen to the frogs and enjoy a sunset. 

 

Mom loved the beauty of nature, reading, baking, doing crossword puzzles, watching curling, and in recent years she always had a jigsaw puzzle on the go. Listening to music was the centre of her day as it brought her great joy and healing. 

 

Mom leaves to cherish her memories; her son Jeffrey Bayliss, her daughter Michelle and son in law, Dion, and her grandsons Noah and Reid Pfeifer. The two boys were the joy of her life and she felt beyond grateful watching them grow into young men. 

 

She also leaves behind one brother, numerous sister in-laws/cousins/nephews/nieces, and her dear friend Fern, whom she kept in close touch with after moving to Yorkton. 

 

She reminded us not to take anything for granted, live life to the fullest, move on from the hard stuff, cherish the beauty of sunsets and rain, and surround yourself with music. We ask that you remember her  for all these things including her witty sense of humour, her laugh, and her kindness toward all. 

 

At mom‘s request there will be no funeral. Mom and Dad will be placed side by side forever together in the Pennant cemetery at a later date. 

 

Donations can be made to your local hospital in remembrance. 

 

Submitted by Maryanne’s daughter, Michelle Pfeifer. 

 

No farewell words were spoken,
No time to say good-bye.
You were gone before we knew it,
We will never know why.
Our hearts ache with sadness,
And tears secretly flow.
What it means to lose you,
No one will ever know.