Marie was the heart of The Walnut Foundation in our early years, the House Mother, Queen Mother, Favourite Grandma, confidant, and friend to all of us. She didn’t just support the mission, she lived it with grace, laughter, and a spirit that wrapped itself around everyone she met.

From day one, Marie adopted all the brothers. She had a gift, the kind you don’t learn, the kind that comes from the soul, to make each person feel seen, heard, and valued. Like a true mother hen, she kept the space warm and grounded, even when the conversations around prostate cancer were heavy and sobering. Her presence made it easier to talk about hard things.

Marie didn’t just show up, she served. She’d shop for and prepare the snacks for our board and membership meetings, and she was always behind the scenes helping to make our events — the symposia, the gala, the walkathon — run smoothly. If it was on the TWF calendar, Marie was there, smiling and steady. A true fixture.

She was witty. She was fun. And she was wonderfully unfiltered. That charm, that honesty, that was Marie. And it made her unforgettable.

Marie stood alongside her beloved husband Winston Isaac, our Co-founder, through it all, and now they are reunited. We give thanks for both of them.

On behalf of the entire Walnut family, we extend our deepest condolences to the children and the family who loved them deeply.

You will forever be a part of this Foundation and this brotherhood.

With love and gratitude,
Team Walnut