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WENDY BELL Obituary
(HUTT) BELL
December 12, 1945 - September 6, 2025
It is with profound sadness and fond memories that we celebrate the life of Wendy Maurine (Hutt) Bell. Wendy was born in Kirkland Lake to Carl and Viola (Cameron) Hutt. She was raised in North Bay playing sports and doing ballet and went to university in Waterloo. She met the love of her life, Spencer Bell, teaching at Dryden High School in 1966. They married and moved to Marathon in 1967 where they had two children, Brenda and Stephen. Wendy was a teacher, owner of a laundromat, the editor of the Marathon Mercury newspaper and the Mayor of Marathon for two terms during the Hemlo gold boom. During that time, Marathon got a new medical clinic/library, fire hall, police station, municipal hall, tourist information booth and ski hill with a chairlift. These were possible as she fought to pass provincial legislation - the Hemlo Bill - for not only Marathon but surrounding communities to get the taxes from the mine (instead of the province) to help pay for infrastructure in the communities that supported their employees. She also encouraged business including a new mall. She was on the hospital board, the provincial HARP commission for radiation regulations, and was the President of NOMA (Northern Ontario Municipal Association). She and Spence also started CFNO Radio station which was the first commercial broadcast station in the area and stood for Cheer For Northern Ontario. It helped link thirteen small communities into a small city with a policy of all positive messaging and a mix of music for everyone with local news, birthdays and weather. After 40 years in Marathon, they sold the radio station and followed Brenda and her children Mike, Lauren and Emma to Dryden where they helped Brenda's family start Q104 FM Today's Hottest Music, serving Kenora, Dryden, Sioux lookout, and Vermilion Bay.
She was predeceased by her parents, Carl and Viola Hutt, in-laws Steve and Gwen Bell, siblings Marilyn (& Peter) Burns, Sandy (& Mary) Hutt, Bonnie (& Ted) Horton, brother-in-law Jack Bell and nephew John Adamson. She is survived by her husband Spence, sister Val (& Ian) Adamson, in-laws Bob Bell and Jean Smyth, children Brenda (Mike Gerstner), and Steve (Vicki) Bell and grandkids Mike, Lauren, Emma, Sebastian and Spencer Bell. She is also survived by many beloved nieces and nephews, and great nieces and nephews.
Wendy and Spence wintered in Yuma and had a cottage in Dryden. She travelled the world, loved her bridge and golf girls, spent valuable time with her family who were her best friends and the best friends who were like family. Wendy would help anyone in need, was fiercely loyal and supportive and was the life of every party. She will be missed incredibly deeply and remembered very fondly.
As there will be no service, if desired, please send a donation to your favourite charity. Please consider the Dryden Regional Health Centre/ Wilson Memorial General Hospital/ Thunder Bay Regional Hospital, the Canadian Cancer Society or any charity for children, animals, or war torn countries.
The family would like to thank all of the DRHC nurses who mom absolutely adored. Thank you to Dr Barrie, Dr Doiron, Dr Hagerty and Doctor Ibrahim. Thanks to all of the doctors, surgeons, techs, chemo nurses, meal providers and admin staff at DRHC and to Lindsay and all of the homecare staff - The care she got was absolutely exceptional. With thanks also to our friend, Jordan Oltsher, at Sioux Lookout Funeral Home for all of your assistance. Special thank you to Minister David Giuliano who shared laughs, a poem, and a most meaningful prayer for mom. Finally, thanks to Emma, Mike and Lauren for the video tribute mom loved and to the many family members who sent her off singing her favorite songs with so much love in the room.
December 12, 1945 - September 6, 2025
It is with profound sadness and fond memories that we celebrate the life of Wendy Maurine (Hutt) Bell. Wendy was born in Kirkland Lake to Carl and Viola (Cameron) Hutt. She was raised in North Bay playing sports and doing ballet and went to university in Waterloo. She met the love of her life, Spencer Bell, teaching at Dryden High School in 1966. They married and moved to Marathon in 1967 where they had two children, Brenda and Stephen. Wendy was a teacher, owner of a laundromat, the editor of the Marathon Mercury newspaper and the Mayor of Marathon for two terms during the Hemlo gold boom. During that time, Marathon got a new medical clinic/library, fire hall, police station, municipal hall, tourist information booth and ski hill with a chairlift. These were possible as she fought to pass provincial legislation - the Hemlo Bill - for not only Marathon but surrounding communities to get the taxes from the mine (instead of the province) to help pay for infrastructure in the communities that supported their employees. She also encouraged business including a new mall. She was on the hospital board, the provincial HARP commission for radiation regulations, and was the President of NOMA (Northern Ontario Municipal Association). She and Spence also started CFNO Radio station which was the first commercial broadcast station in the area and stood for Cheer For Northern Ontario. It helped link thirteen small communities into a small city with a policy of all positive messaging and a mix of music for everyone with local news, birthdays and weather. After 40 years in Marathon, they sold the radio station and followed Brenda and her children Mike, Lauren and Emma to Dryden where they helped Brenda's family start Q104 FM Today's Hottest Music, serving Kenora, Dryden, Sioux lookout, and Vermilion Bay.
She was predeceased by her parents, Carl and Viola Hutt, in-laws Steve and Gwen Bell, siblings Marilyn (& Peter) Burns, Sandy (& Mary) Hutt, Bonnie (& Ted) Horton, brother-in-law Jack Bell and nephew John Adamson. She is survived by her husband Spence, sister Val (& Ian) Adamson, in-laws Bob Bell and Jean Smyth, children Brenda (Mike Gerstner), and Steve (Vicki) Bell and grandkids Mike, Lauren, Emma, Sebastian and Spencer Bell. She is also survived by many beloved nieces and nephews, and great nieces and nephews.
Wendy and Spence wintered in Yuma and had a cottage in Dryden. She travelled the world, loved her bridge and golf girls, spent valuable time with her family who were her best friends and the best friends who were like family. Wendy would help anyone in need, was fiercely loyal and supportive and was the life of every party. She will be missed incredibly deeply and remembered very fondly.
As there will be no service, if desired, please send a donation to your favourite charity. Please consider the Dryden Regional Health Centre/ Wilson Memorial General Hospital/ Thunder Bay Regional Hospital, the Canadian Cancer Society or any charity for children, animals, or war torn countries.
The family would like to thank all of the DRHC nurses who mom absolutely adored. Thank you to Dr Barrie, Dr Doiron, Dr Hagerty and Doctor Ibrahim. Thanks to all of the doctors, surgeons, techs, chemo nurses, meal providers and admin staff at DRHC and to Lindsay and all of the homecare staff - The care she got was absolutely exceptional. With thanks also to our friend, Jordan Oltsher, at Sioux Lookout Funeral Home for all of your assistance. Special thank you to Minister David Giuliano who shared laughs, a poem, and a most meaningful prayer for mom. Finally, thanks to Emma, Mike and Lauren for the video tribute mom loved and to the many family members who sent her off singing her favorite songs with so much love in the room.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Published by The Thunder Bay Chronicle Journal on Sep. 26, 2025.
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