Maylene Sharol Mcmillan

Maylene Sharol McMillan passed away peacefully at the home of her sister, Marcia - in Victoria - BC. in her 71st year. For over a year she battled ovarian cancer with determination, courage and good humor. Although she was not ready to leave this beautiful world, when the time came she arrived to a place of acceptance and surrender. This awful illness humbled her and beautifully opened her to authentic interdependence and connection. In this there was healing. She slipped gently away - on September 24, 2002 - surrounded in the last days and hours by people who loved her dearly.

Maylene was born in Biggar, Saskatchewan to Irene May and Duncan James McMillan in 1951. Her name was coined by her mother Irene to include her own maiden name “May”. Maylene grew up in North Battleford, with every summer enjoyed at the family cottage in Cochin on Jackfish Lake. She attended the University of Alberta, where she eventually earned a Masters in Computing Science. There was however, a hiatus in her schooling of 9 years, which were spent travelling and adventuring in Europe and Asia. She was a curious, intrepid and resourceful traveller, finding opportunities to make money wherever she landed. Even after completing her degree and obtaining employment during the tech boom in California, her restless spirit led her to frequent walkabouts from her career to pursue heart callings: she developed a flower business, collected and sold New Guinea art and rode the ups and downs of day trading the stock market.

Maylene had a great appetite for life and an eye for beauty in everything: she loved good food, good wine, beautiful clothes and art, and being in nature. She loved to travel and collected exquisite hand-made artifacts from the over 30 countries she visited/lived in. Although she never married, she had many loves during her life, some of whom stayed in touch for years. She greatly enjoyed her physicality: she was an avid runner, cyclist and canoeist in earlier years. More recently she committed herself to long daily walks and found a love for, and developing skill in, the game of snooker - which she indulged at the Union Club.

Maylene is survived by her sister, Marcia McMillan and brother-in-law Daniel Parker. She dearly loved her two nephews, Lucas Parker and Beau Parker, who were both so present and supportive during her transition from this plane; as was her partner of three years – Bill Stalker – who stayed at her side so faithfully throughout her health challenges. Maylene loved her wide and international circle of friends and they participated in a video tribute to her a month before she passed. This greatly raised her spirits, helped her know she was seen and loved and reassured her that we will all hold her in our hearts and memories.

She was truly a one off – like her name.

A private graveside green burial took place on October 3 at Royal Oak Burial Park.

In lieu of flowers, you might choose to direct donations to Victoria Hospice. We are so grateful to the palliative care team from hospice, which enabled Maylene to die at home.