Vasiliki Pedersen (née Marinakos)
Canadian Armed Forces Obituary
Capt Bessie Marinakos
Capt Marinakos joined the CAF as a Direct Entry Officer in late 2002, bringing with her a wealth of education as she possessed two Master's degrees in Education and Psychology and civilian work experience. After completing her initial military and occupation training and over a year of OJT at the Personnel Development (PDev) sect in Ottawa, she was posted to 8 Wing Trenton in 2007 as the Wing Personnel Selection Officer.
In 2010, the PSel Branch undertook the conduct of an occupational analysis study in DPGR to capture the new roles and capabilities which had evolved over a 20 year period since the previous study. Capt Marinakos, with her attention to detail and strong analytical skills, was specifically requested for this position to conduct this important work for our occupation.
As was typical, Bessie hit-the-ground running and set about conducting background research and scheduling in-depth interviews with PSOs at all rank levels to capture the work requirements. She quickly adapted to this new headquarter posting where the work involved synthesizing large amounts of interview data, as well as in-depth analysis of the current positions in the Branch. This important work still serves today as the foundation of the PSel job specification on which the occupation is based.
In 2012, Capt Marinakos was posted to DGMC where she worked on personnel production and related program issues, and then began crafting a long overdue Component Transfer (CT) policy that was complex and involved many stakeholders. In her true style, Bessie worked efficiently through these issues and made significant progress on this policy which is critical to the CAF. In 2018, Capt Marinakos was selected as an instructor for junior PSOs and was posted to the school, CFTDC, in Borden where she was being succession planned for the Officer Commanding position shortly thereafter. Unfortunately, she became ill a few months after arriving and was posted to the transition center in Ottawa.
Capt Marinakos was always a kind, compassionate and caring individual who worked hard for the benefit of CAF members in every role she fulfilled in the CAF. She will be greatly missed by her colleagues and the PSel Branch.
Intellegere
Col Lisa Noonan
DPGR/Personnel Selection Branch Advisor
Bessie Marinakos, aged 57, passed away peacefully in her sleep with her husband Philip Dalsgaard Pedersen at her side. In addition, she leaves behind their daughter, OCdt Margaret-Sophia Pedersen and her brother, retired Sgt. Peter Marinakos, her sister Mary, many nieces, nephews and their children, as well as Godchildren. She was recently predeceased by both of her parents.
Before joining the Canadian Armed Forces, Bessie worked as a teacher including in the James Bay Cree community of Wemindji, at Prep School in Montreal, as a teacher and, ultimately, as the Director of Bishop’s College Summer School in Lennoxville, Quebec during the 1990s. For a few years before joining the Forces, Bessie also worked as a consultant in Ottawa at Gaffney Consulting.
Although her last few years were difficult, they would not have been possible without the support of her loving family (including Philip, Margaret-Sophia, Peter, Mary, nieces Koula, Nicky and Patra, as well as her brother-in-law David), or the selfless personal support workers (including Mary Grace, Jennalynn, Rosalie, Violetta and Isak) and home-care nurses (including Max, Jennifer and Yuroslava in Ottawa, and Greg in Trenton), as well as the caring doctors and staff at the Ottawa General Cancer Centre (especially Drs. Fitzgibbon, Amjadi, Canil and Caudrelier, and the many compassionate palliative care nurses).
Finally, the kindness and tangible support of her many colleagues (including Majors Nancy Peron and Krista Leonard) and the medical team (Dr. Brownlee, Darlene Devon and Caroline Lebel) of the Canadian Armed Forces was heart felt and much appreciated by Bessie and her family.
Private ceremony due to Covid-19.
Capt Bessie Marinakos
Capt Marinakos joined the CAF as a Direct Entry Officer in late 2002, bringing with her a wealth of education as she possessed two Master's degrees in Education and Psychology and civilian work experience. After completing her initial military and occupation training and over a year of OJT at the Personnel Development (PDev) sect in Ottawa, she was posted to 8 Wing Trenton in 2007 as the Wing Personnel Selection Officer.
In 2010, the PSel Branch undertook the conduct of an occupational analysis study in DPGR to capture the new roles and capabilities which had evolved over a 20 year period since the previous study. Capt Marinakos, with her attention to detail and strong analytical skills, was specifically requested for this position to conduct this important work for our occupation.
As was typical, Bessie hit-the-ground running and set about conducting background research and scheduling in-depth interviews with PSOs at all rank levels to capture the work requirements. She quickly adapted to this new headquarter posting where the work involved synthesizing large amounts of interview data, as well as in-depth analysis of the current positions in the Branch. This important work still serves today as the foundation of the PSel job specification on which the occupation is based.
In 2012, Capt Marinakos was posted to DGMC where she worked on personnel production and related program issues, and then began crafting a long overdue Component Transfer (CT) policy that was complex and involved many stakeholders. In her true style, Bessie worked efficiently through these issues and made significant progress on this policy which is critical to the CAF. In 2018, Capt Marinakos was selected as an instructor for junior PSOs and was posted to the school, CFTDC, in Borden where she was being succession planned for the Officer Commanding position shortly thereafter. Unfortunately, she became ill a few months after arriving and was posted to the transition center in Ottawa.
Capt Marinakos was always a kind, compassionate and caring individual who worked hard for the benefit of CAF members in every role she fulfilled in the CAF. She will be greatly missed by her colleagues and the PSel Branch.
Intellegere
Col Lisa Noonan
DPGR/Personnel Selection Branch Advisor
Bessie Marinakos, aged 57, passed away peacefully in her sleep with her husband Philip Dalsgaard Pedersen at her side. In addition, she leaves behind their daughter, OCdt Margaret-Sophia Pedersen and her brother, retired Sgt. Peter Marinakos, her sister Mary, many nieces, nephews and their children, as well as Godchildren. She was recently predeceased by both of her parents.
Before joining the Canadian Armed Forces, Bessie worked as a teacher including in the James Bay Cree community of Wemindji, at Prep School in Montreal, as a teacher and, ultimately, as the Director of Bishop’s College Summer School in Lennoxville, Quebec during the 1990s. For a few years before joining the Forces, Bessie also worked as a consultant in Ottawa at Gaffney Consulting.
Although her last few years were difficult, they would not have been possible without the support of her loving family (including Philip, Margaret-Sophia, Peter, Mary, nieces Koula, Nicky and Patra, as well as her brother-in-law David), or the selfless personal support workers (including Mary Grace, Jennalynn, Rosalie, Violetta and Isak) and home-care nurses (including Max, Jennifer and Yuroslava in Ottawa, and Greg in Trenton), as well as the caring doctors and staff at the Ottawa General Cancer Centre (especially Drs. Fitzgibbon, Amjadi, Canil and Caudrelier, and the many compassionate palliative care nurses).
Finally, the kindness and tangible support of her many colleagues (including Majors Nancy Peron and Krista Leonard) and the medical team (Dr. Brownlee, Darlene Devon and Caroline Lebel) of the Canadian Armed Forces was heart felt and much appreciated by Bessie and her family.
Private ceremony due to Covid-19.