Marina Santos (née Dimas)
It is with heavy hearts that the family of Marina (née Dimas) Santos announces her passing on Tuesday, January 31, 2023 at the age of 56. Born October 24, 1966 in Prince George, BC, Marina was shortly thereafter raised in Edmonton and later returned to BC with her husband Paul to pursue their teaching careers. Marina returned to Edmonton in 2004 and began her career with the Alberta Public Service. She was dedicated to working with vulnerable clients and communities for the ministries of Alberta Justice and Community and Social Services.
Marina is lovingly remembered and cherished by her husband Paul and two beautiful sons Lewis and Evan, her parents George and Helen Dimas, and her brother Dimitri (Maria and Vasilios) and (Jennifer, Giorgio Cristiano and Ilena). She leaves behind numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins in Edmonton and Greece. Additionally, she was loved by her in- laws Joseph (predeceased) and Irene Santos and their daughter Pamela (Chris Green).
Marina was a highly respected teacher at Correlieu Secondary School in Quesnel, BC from 1991-2004. Her enthusiasm and dedication to her beloved students and willingness to embrace country life was inspiring. Marina was a gifted pianist, accordionist, singer, seamstress, gardener with an artistic flair that shone brightly in all her pursuits. She maintained a keen wit and comported herself with humility, discernment, and selflessness. The family would like to thank all the medical staff at the University of Alberta Hospital who provided Marina with the utmost professional care.
Trisagion (prayer services) will be held on Thursday, February 9, 2023 at 6:00pm at St. George’s Greek Orthodox Church located at 10831 124 street, Edmonton. Funeral services will be held on Friday, February 10, 2023 at 12:00pm (noon) at St. George’s Greek Orthodox Church, with interment to follow at Westlawn Cemetery located at 16310 Stony Plain Road, Edmonton.
The family requests that donations, should you wish, can be made in honour of Marina Santos to: Voice of Albertans with Disabilities, (780) 488 9088. Website: vadsociety.ca
Marina, you were and will always will be a beloved treasure to all of us in the family. We will always cherish your beautiful dinners and family gatherings, music crafts, your advice, wit and love you gave to us all. Thank you for being the most loving and beautiful wife and mother to our dearest Paul, Lewis and Evan.
Eternally in our hearts,
Irene and Pamela Santos
We are all so heartbroken for your loss. We are sending you our love and prayers through this difficult time. Our deepest condolences. May her Memory be Eternal.
Paul, Lewis and Evan we are so sorry for your tremendous loss. We are keeping you in our thoughts and praying for you all during this difficult time.
Armani Family
Condolences from the Kavgadoulis family from Edmonton and in Greece Rest in peace Marina. I Remember you from our teenage years growing up you were a very talented and kind person may God welcome you into Heaven.
Rest in Peace, Marina. You went away too soon.
Our sympathies are with you Paul, Lewis, Ewan..Irene, Pam..take courage..we are with you in your grief. Love always
Our condolences go out to you and your beautiful family. I will miss the chats Marina and I would have in her front flower bed. With all the love you are in our thoughts and prayers.
My Deepest condolences to the entire Family. My thoughts and prayers 🙏 have been with your entire family since hearing about Marina. May Marina’s memory be eternal 🙏 ✝️ ❤️
Very sorry to hear of the passing of Maria. My thoughts and prayers are with you Paul and your sons.
Jodi Morris
Very sorry to hear of the passing of Marina
My thoughts and prayers are with you Paul and your sons.
Jodi Morris
It is with great sadness that we bid farewall to our beloved cousin Marina Santos -Dimas, who passed away so suddenly and unexpectedly. We expeess our sincere condolences to her entire family and my God rest her in peace. Our hearts and toughts are with you at this difficult time.
Anastasia, Chris, Sotirios & Marianthi Manologlou
Paul and family, I am so very sorry for your loss. My heart goes out to you all in this time of sadness.
So very sorry to hear of this sadness. Such a beautiful, funny, loving teacher and colleague. Thinking of you.
Marilyn Wiles
Although we haven’t seen Marina or Paul for many years we have thought of you both often. We’ll never forget the great meals and evenings spent with Marina and the wonderful gifts and olive oil she gave us. We feel for your grief and we are both very saddened by her loss.
Jean and Randall Barr
Quesnel
I am so sorry to hear about the sudden passing of Marina. I have many fond memories of her as a colleague and friend at Correlieu High School in the 90s and early 2000s. My daughter Allison, who attended the school at the time, commented that Marina was one of her favourite teachers. She also commented that she was very popular with many of her friends. Please accept my sincere condolences Paul for you and your family’s loss.
Very saddened by this news. Shealagh and I would like to offer heartfelt condolences to Paul and all of Marina’s family.
So sad to hear. I remember her as a valued colleague and enjoyed her vivacious personality immensely.
Paul we send our sincere condolences to you and your boys at the sudden passing of your wife Marina. We are keeping you all in our prayers. God Bless 🙏
I remember you and Mr. Santos being the “cool teachers”.
They both connected well with the students.
Rest In Peace Mrs. Santos
I was so surprised to hear of Marina’s passing. I had the privilege of working with her at Correlieu. She had an innate ability not connect with all of her students. I remember fondly as an amazing young woman who difference in the lives of those around her. Hugs to Paul and her sons.
The Alexandropoulos family are so deeply sorry for the loss of Marina Santos-Dimas. She was such a talented and amazing person with a heart of gold! The light she brought into the world will always remain in the hearts of everyone she knew and loved most. She will never be forgotten and her legacy will live on!
We will always cherish the times we spent together and never forget all the the beautiful times we heard her play the piano.
We are keeping you all in our thoughts and praying for you during this difficult time.
Mrs. Santos, you were my favourite teacher and someone who I have cared about very much over these last several years.
You were fun, funny, honest, open and so kind. I loved how you were so down to earth, and talked to us students like people. You were there for me personally many times over the years and I will always cherish you and that time.
Sincerest condolences to Paul, Evan and Lewis and your loving family and friends. Grateful to have connected with you over the years and tell you how special a person you are.
Much love ❤️
So very sorry to hear of your loss, Paul. Marina was an amazing person that gave such love to her passions….her family, friends and everything she did. My sincere condolences to you and your family.
So sorry to hear of Marina’s passing. Heartfelt condolences to all her family and friends. I knew her from Quesnel, we were all a part of an amazing teaching community. Memories of good times and laughter with her and Paul.
My condolences to Paul and family on the loss of Marina. She was always a bright light as a staff member at Correlieu Secondary School.
I am sending a deep heartfelt space for Paul, Evan, Lewis and the rest of Marinas family. Marina and Paul were incredibly impactful to my life in the high school setting. Marina was always warm, kind, and somehow had a gift for making me and others feel like we were important beyond being a kid. I have cherished memories of her opening her home and heart. This many years later I still feel supported by her words and being. I am very sorry for her loss and wish her family much spacious grieving during this time. Much love and thanks
Mandy sandbach
Dear Paul, Lewis & Evan,
We are profoundly saddened to hear of the untimely and tragic loss of Marina. We will all remember her warmth, good humour and calming nature.. She will be much missed and never forgotten. You are in our thoughts and prayers. With deepest sympathies and love, the McCafferty family.
My sincere condolences to Paul and Marina’s family. As a former teacher at Corrrlieu I remember Paul and Marina as fun, outgoing people. Marina will be missed.
Marina is one of those women I wish I had the gotten to know better and spend more time with. She was strong, witty, generous, caring and creative. Never was the saying truer “that the trouble is, you think you have time”.
Marina, you touched lives, and will be missed profoundly. Rest in peace!
I will remember Marina for her kindness and compassion for others, her devilish sense of humour and her seeming unlimited energy, for her creativity and for her support of her friends. I was lucky to count her as one.
So sorry to hear of Marinas passing .Condolences to you and all to your family
So sorry to hear of marinas passing Condolences to you and all your family
I have had the opportunity to work with Marina on and off over the years; and more closely in the past four years. In her time with the ministry of Community and Social Services (and all of it’s past and present names), Marina was assigned many priorities, projects and positions often with little more than a moment’s notice. She was involved with the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder cross ministry initiative in the early years of its inception. She played a key role in the Provincial Disability Supports Initiatives including exploring a common assessment for people with developmental disabilities; and developing innovations to increase employment for people with a wide range of disabilities through the Employment First Initiatives. Marina lead the creation of the current Service Dogs Regulation in Alberta; a change that has ensured more Albertans with disabilities can access a qualified service dog. She was involved with disability programs’ quality assurance, key human resource files, and most recently as the lead manager with the Premier’s Council on the Status of Persons with Disabilities. This included a meeting in mid January with Premier Smith and all Council members in Calgary.
More than what Marina accomplished in her work with the Government of Alberta, she brought all of her creative gifts, talents and endeavours to share with those of us who worked with her. She was the “go to” person about all plant and gardening questions. She always had a new and unique referral or idea about what to do when spring finally arrives. Her cooking, entertaining and many exquisite, one of a kind, crafts, décor and amazing creature comforts were generously shared with so many of us. Her hand crafted and tested essential oils, artistic soaps, bath and shower bombs, natural fragrances, moisturizers, scents and more were made with individualized love, care and thought for the potential recipients she had in mind.
Marina’s unique combination of cheerful agility and personal creativity made the workplace a better place for those that worked alongside her. When spring arrives and you notice a new bloom unexpectedly popping up through the spring earth, you can be sure that Marina is smiling down making it so.
Godspeed Marina.
Paul, Evan and Lewis may you find strength in your family and friends.
My deepest condolences to you Paul and your family.
Paul, I am so sorry for your loss. My deepest condolences to you, your sons, Lewis and Evan and your family.
I was shocked and saddened to hear about Marina’s passing. My condolences to Paul, Lewis, Evan and Marina’s family. I had the pleasure of working with Marina and Paul at Correlieu Secondary School in Quesnel. Marina was a gifted teacher and a wonderful, fun loving colleague. Thoughts and Prayers to the family.
We are so deeply shocked and saddened to hear about Marina’s sudden passing away. We met Marina when my late wife Yolanda and I stayed at their wonderful log house in Quesnel, BC, in 1993, when we visited Canada for the very first time. Marina was a very gracious hostess. Marina was a very kind, generous, self-effacing and a very humble and down to earth person, despite her gorgeous good looks! She went out of her way to make sure our stay at her home was comfortable as well as memorable. From the testimonies of some of her students she was an inspiring and much loved teacher, and from her fb page we’ve come to know that she was a creatively talented person too. We know that she will love, cherish, guard and guide her husband Paul and their sons Lewis and Evan in the tough days and years ahead, from her heavenly abode. May her soul rest in peace.
My deepest sympathies to Paul, Lewis, Evan and the extended family on the passing of your heart and soul Marina.
We are told that every day is a gift and I certainly know the days spent with Marina were treasures.
To Marina,
I love you my friend and I cant believe you are gone. I know your eternal rest will be peaceful.
Dear Family of Marina,
I am heartbroken to hear of Marina’s passing. I worked with Marina a few years ago. She is a lovely and caring person. I am so sorry to hear of her passing – too soon for such a young and beautiful lady. My deepest sympathies to all of you. May you find comfort in knowing that she is with God.
Marina and all of you are in my thoughts and prayers.
Sincerely,
Josephine
Paul and family, I can’t begin to express how sorry I was to hear about your loss. Wishing you peace, comfort, courage, and love at this time of sorrow.
I’m sorry you’re going through this, Paul , please Take care .
Dear Paul,Lewes,Evan
We are thinking of you at this saddest off times
as you come to terms with the passing of
Marina. We will always remember her for her warmth and kindness, and welcoming heart
We know that your faith and love will give you strength.
With deepest love and sympathies,
Uncle James and family
Our deepest condolences for your loss,
Angella and Soula Vertzaya
Dearest Paul, Evan and Lewis,
We are deeply saddened by Marina’s passing and are so sorry for the loss of your beloved wife and mummy. My heart goes out to you all.
Sending you our sincerest condolences.You are in our thoughts and hearts.
Merrill, Dan, Max and Darcey.
xxxx
Paul, Lewis, Evan and the entire Santos/ Dimas family, please accept our utmost sincerest condolences. There are no words to express how saddened we all were to have heard this news. Marina was one in a million. Her beautiful smile and presence on this earth will be deeply missed. Until we meet again dear friend. Praying and sending love & strength to you all. 🙏🏻✝️❤️
Paul, Lewis and Evan, my thoughts and prayers are with you. During our time working together, Marina embraced the challenge of learning about service dogs and was passionate working with community agencies. She shared many happy and funny memories about living in the country, her love for gardening and of your life together as a family. I am sending you positive thoughts as you navigate through this difficult time.
Even though I never had Mrs Santos as a teacher at Correlieu Secondary, I did get to talk to her often as I had Mr Santos as a teacher every year I was there. She was always so nice and kind to me. Mr Santos quickly became one of my favorite teachers always talking about how awesome Toronto was and how slow the pace of Quesnel living was. Quite a few people in my graduating class still talk about Mr Santos and how much fun it was going to class everyday. My condolences Mr Santos, and remember even if you merge at 250 km/hr you will still be behind me.
To family, friends and anybody who ever met Marina, please accept my deepest condolences. Marina left this world too soon but I will always remember her. She will live in our memories and hearts.
Paul and family,
I was shocked to hear of Marina’s sudden passing. My heart goes out to you…what an incredibly difficult time – please know that you have friends and family that are here to support you through your grief and sorrow. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Deep sympathies for Marina’s Family and Closest Friends…
Paul, Lewis and Evan, I have many warm and happy memories of your precious family while caring for Lewis and Evan when they were children.
I remember Marina’s beautiful spirit, her kindness, gentle strength and creativity.
God keep Marina in His Eternal Peace.
God Bless Marina’s family…remembering you in prayers.
Marina and I worked on the same floor for a few years, and had great conversations about Greece and travelling! Her presence was always warm and friendly and she always had time for a conversation and made the work place a friendly place. My condolences to her family and deepest sympathies.
My deepest and most sincere condolences to the family. I thought of you and Paul often as I recall my high school years at Correlieu. Mrs. Santos was a great person and it showed in her way of speaking and teaching to her students. Life is not fair and takes away special people from this earth. I pray for Paul (Mr. Santos) and the boys and may the family find strength to overcome their sadness…🙏😢