Marian Nell

Is so sad to find out Marian she is no more what a sad news for me and my family. The worse part we we found out today on the 23 July 2023 wish I can get Sam, Ben or Janet contact number mine is 0733623462

Just found out about Marion passing. So sad, my heartfelt condolences. If Janet has time and inclination, we happen to be in South Africa and would love to meet. Current phone number 0781158901

We have many memories of Marian's visits; first to Harare in 1980 and later in Cape Town. Also of the NellShap hospitality to us all as we stayed the night on our long journey from Cape Town to Harare every year. I seem to remember Marian staying up late to chat and Janet getting up very early to let us out. I know David always visited you when in Joburg for meetings and enjoyed intense political conversations as well as discussions on our respective children. Can't believe she has gone. Sending love thoughts and condolences for the loss of such a special person in your lives, and the lives of many others at a personal level and whom she impacted on by her work Sue Ben Lisa and Oscar

I will so miss my dear friend Marian. She was such a special person, always available to hear your moans and groans and share in your joys. Marian I will miss your sound advice, being able to share my woes with you and have your advice how to navigate my way through them and hear your laughter when we shared joyous news together . I am so fortunate that I had you in my life, thank you thank you

Dear Janet & Family I was really heartsore on learning of Marian’s passing. I saw her briefly a couple of years ago but my appreciation & admiration for her (and as someone else has already said, Marian & Janet were such a team, hard to think of one without the other) goes way back to the days of apartheid & the terrific work that she did. Then I was really fortunate to have her help & advice through a very difficult time in my working life. She supported me & gave me confidence & belief in my worth. You are all entering a new phase of yr life but someone like Marian will be there with you all they way. I wish you all strength and joyful memories. Best wishes, Laura

Dear Janet, Ben, and Sam, I was so sorry to hear that Marian died. I can't imagine how shocked you must be. Though I haven't seen you in a few years I often get updates from my mom or Jess, and always like hearing how you are all doing. I have fond memories of playing at your house as kids, lunches and Christmases spent together. Marian, and you all, often pop up when I think about my childhood. Like the other day, I saw an ad for the recent Little Women remake, and remembered lying on a couch watching the original at your Bez Valley house as a kid. When I was little I thought Marian was slightly intimidating. I remember when Sam used to say that he was happy he didn't have a dad, because Mike was scary, and I would think "well your moms don't have loud shouty voices but Minnie is very serious " But that didn't last, and after years of holidays, lunches, and birthdays together, reading her delicious food, I'll remember her as quietly loving presence throughout my childhood. Thinking of you all, and sending love from Stockholm.

I will really miss you, Marian, even though our contact in latter years was intermittent but always intimate and reassuring. So many of the memories people have posted echo mine - the childhood memories and pranks, the wayward years of our misspent youth, the loving child focused household with Janet, the careful and cleverly chosen presents (I still have some) etc. Einstein says ‘Energy cannot be created or destroyed, it can only be changed from one form to another’ so I comfort myself by imagining Marian, my mom and brother and other members of the family as disembodied energy having a good laugh and lots of arguments about what we earthlings are getting up to! Sending love and courage to Janet, Ben, Sam and families

I'm still shocked by Marian's sudden passing. Marian was a warm and caring aunt and great aunt and will be sorely missed by all of us. I still remember our sleepovers at the Bez Valley house where Jonny and I would slide down the stairs on cushions and sleeping bags. Marian was always willing to help and she was instrumental in helping me finalise my university thesis which she edited. Marian and Janet always took a keen interest in our kids and often showered them with great gifts. We'll miss you Marian. Sending our condolences and love to Janet, Ben and Wicus, Sam, Kelsey and Raphael