Marie Griffin Nyland, 87, of Olmsted Falls, Ohio, lived a life full of creativity, adventure, and generous care for others. She died at Danbury Senior Living in North Ridgeville, Ohio, leaving behind a legacy that will continue to bloom in the people and places she loved.
Born to Ralph and Helene Griffin, Marie was preceded in death by her siblings Gordon Griffin and Grover Griffin.
For much of her life, and until just a few years ago, Marie was an absolute force of nature. She filled every season with projects, celebrations, and ways to bring people together. Her holiday cookies, each often decorated by hand, traveled to family and friends all across the country. Holiday events (and especially Thanksgiving) brought a houseful of family and friends to enjoy the creativity of her kitchen.
Marie’s love of gardening took root throughout Olmsted Falls. As an active member of the Olmsted Falls Gardening Club, she tended community gardens and contributed thousands of plants to the club’s annual sale. She found deep joy while playing in the dirt and nurturing flowers into bloom, a joy that will carry on in every garden touched by her work.
Marie and her husband Ted enjoyed more than 60 years of sailing with the Cleveland Yachting Club. They first met as crew members on their dentist’s boat and went on to sail together to Canada’s North Channel several times. For more than 25 years, they also shared their enthusiasm for model trains through clubs in Sandusky and Kirtland, traveling widely to ride trains and enjoy the hobby together.
Marie made beauty with her hands wherever she went. She painted, made hooked rugs, and created handmade clay pots for WVIZ Public TV’s annual auction. Her sought-after pots often sold for $500 to $1,000. She baked wedding cakes, catered receptions and parties, and made holiday celebrations special for her wide circle of family and friends.
Her generosity reached young people throughout the community, too. When her children were growing up, Marie volunteered in local schools and shared her love of art through projects with hundreds of students. She also led a Girl Scout troop and taught CE and Vacation Bible School.
Marie is survived by her husband, Ted Nyland, and their children: Kathy Yau (Chris), son Darrell (Theresa) and daughter Carol Holck (Doug) and six grandchildren: Kimmy, Travis, Rachel, Hope, Kellianne, and Paul.
Marie was laid to rest at Foxfield Preserve, a Conservation Burial Ground in Wilmot, OH where she will continue to foster natural beauty. Those who knew her will remember a life that kept growing, creating, sailing, teaching, and giving. Truly, Marie was a force of nature—and the things she planted will keep blooming.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the charitable organization of your choice in Marie‘s name.