Marianne Meads

From a young age Marianne had an uncanny ability to empathize–an ability she demonstrated right up to the end. It was not uncommon for Marianne to meet someone and know their entire life story in the first ten minutes. Her hairdressers and nail technicians all thought they were her best friends, because that’s what Marianne did: she made you feel seen and safe. She did not judge. She listened. She validated. She loved.

Marianne had an affinity for shoes, especially high heels–it was just built into her DNA. Before she could even speak full sentences she was often seen clomping up the street, smile on her face, in nothing but a diaper and her little plastic dress-up high heels. A talent she honed later in life as a model walking runways in six-inch stilettos.

Marianne was quirky in the most endearing ways. She loved corny Hallmark movies, World War II, shark week, trash TV, getting her nails done, cozy sweatshirts, diamonds, coke, Burt’s Beeswax, Disney, Disneyland, and tattoos. She had an understated, but hilarious, sense of humor for those who were listening.

Marianne was a fierce sister and friend. She was loyal; sometimes to her own detriment. Marianne was constantly thinking of others. She loved finding little ways to show her love for those around her. It wasn’t uncommon for her to shoot off a heartfelt text, send flowers, or even call you up and say she had a gift for you because, “I just saw something I knew you would love.”

After getting her Associates Degree from Salt Lake Community College, Marianne decided to pursue her true passion: jewelry. Marianne took a jewelry class in high school, and it was like drawing a moth to a flame. She loved it, and boy oh boy, was she good at it. After working to become a certified gemologist, Marianne got a job with OC Tanner as a bench jeweler, where she worked for many years. She loved creating beautiful things and did just that until her body limited her ability to do so. Her health ailments made it nearly impossible to work long hours at the bench, ultimately causing her to leave OC Tanner. She didn’t let that stop her though. Eager to continue pursuing her passion, she launched her own jewelry business, Mern Jewelry, in 2022. But her health situation continued to decline until she was forced to discontinue that as well.

Marianne was diagnosed with carcinoid tumors in 2019. A rare form of cancer, carcinoid tumors are slow growing but secrete hormones that wreak havoc on the body. If that wasn’t enough, in 2020, Marianne was hospitalized with C. diff and E. coli from exposure to contaminated food. As a result of the severity of those infections, Marianne was diagnosed with gastroparesis: another rare condition that causes the stomach and other organs to stop functioning. These conditions resulted in excruciating, near-constant pain. Not many people understood the full extent of Marianne's suffering due to her perseverance and desire to be present for others. Her sweet dog Pippa was her constant companion through it all, a huge source of comfort for Marianne, and with her to the very end.

Marianne wanted to be a mom more than anything in this world. Not having that dream realized was a real source of sadness for her, but she channeled that disappointment into being the best Aunt to her fourteen nieces and nephews. She knew and loved each one of them on an individual basis and took every chance she got to dote on them. On her darkest of days, they were often her light.

Marianne loved and valued her family above all else. She had a uniquely close relationship with her Mom and Dad. They were her best friends. They were the people she relied on most, the ones who showed up for her day-in and day-out, the only people that knew the full extent of her struggles. She was acutely aware of their sacrifices and was so grateful for their love and support. She loved them with her whole heart.

The last year of her life Marianne was torn. Torn between loving the people in her life so fiercely that she was willing to endure unimaginable amounts of pain to stay here with them and wanting and praying to be released from all the pain and struggles. She chose to fight, to endure, to persevere, and she stayed with us for as long as she could. In the end, her spirit had so much more to give, but her body did not.

While her absence is felt in our very souls, we are so grateful to know that she is no longer in pain and has found the peace that so alluded her in life. We know she is now with the Master Healer: pain free and whole. We are grateful for the plan of happiness and the knowledge that we will be with her again. But until then, we love you Marianne.

Marianne is survived by her parents Garner and LeeAnn, her five siblings Melissa (Zachary Gleason), Garner (Julie Meads), Matthew (Erin Meads), Steven (Jann Meads), Rebekah (Landen Watts), and her sweet pup, Pippa.