Passed away peacefully at the North Bay Regional Health Center, from pancreatic cancer on Saturday February 22nd, 2020. She was born in 1953 in New Liskeard, Ontario. Predeceased by parents Geraldine and Nate Hayes and sister Sharon (Brian Ritchie). Marla is survived by nieces Cara (JP Poudrier), Tanya (Shawn Plamondon), Meagan (Jonathan D'Sousa) and great nieces and nephews Aydan, Ellie, Tessa, Rowyn, Landon and Rhys.
Marla's lifetime battle with MD didn't stop her from earning a B.Sc from Trent University, B.Ed from Queen’s and sharing her creative side as a newspaper/magazine journalist, columnist, photographer, novelist, actor and screenwriter.
She will be missed by a close group of Traill College friends, a large international community of screenwriters/filmmakers, and special friends Martha & Albert Attema and Angela Falkowska. Visitation will be held in the Martyn Funeral Home Chapel on Saturday February 29th from 12 noon until time of Funeral Service in the Funeral Home Chapel at 2:00 P.M. Spring interment at the North Bay Union Cemetery. Donations in lieu of flowers to the North Bay Food Bank or the North Bay and District Humane Society.