Mary was one of six children — three boys and three girls — all raised in Toronto. Although she left home at a fairly early age, she remained very fond of and close to her siblings throughout her life. In her younger years, Mary was quite athletic and enjoyed playing tennis, curling, and golf. She was also an extremely talented seamstress and dressmaker, as well as a gifted knitter, quilter, embroiderer, and stained-glass artist.

Mary was a fantastic cook and took several gourmet cooking classes while living in England, much to the delight of her husband, Ian, and their two daughters, Keli and Kathryn.

While living in England, Mary developed a passion for gardening and became very knowledgeable about plants and landscaping. She had impeccable taste and a natural talent for decorating. She loved antiques and cherished the family’s monthly trips to the shops at Bullring & Grand Central in Solihull and Birmingham, as well as visits to Royal Leamington Spa — especially trips to the toy shop or the pub with Ian after watching Keli and Kathryn ride.

Back in Canada, Mary loved her part-time job at Ports International in London’s Masonville Mall, much to the delight of her daughters, who were often treated to gifts from the store.

Mary adored her grandchildren — Abigail, Amara, James, and Bryan. She was a fun and devoted grandmother who loved doing crafts and activities with them and was immensely proud of each of them. She also dearly loved her great-granddaughter, Sloane, and always looked forward to her visits. It saddened her that she did not have the chance to meet her great-granddaughter Ellie before she passed away.

Mary endured many difficult years with debilitating back pain and eventually became unable to walk later in life. Through her pain and the heartbreaking loss of her husband, Ian, in June 2024, Mary remained sharp, resilient, and strong-willed. Although her short-term memory began to fail, her long-term memory remained remarkable. She was never afraid to call out nonsense, freely share her opinions, and made sure to enjoy her nightly glass of wine while watching Murder, She Wrote and her favourite British television shows.

Though she could sometimes be critical, Mary was deeply generous and cared profoundly for her family and friends. She devoted much of her time to volunteering, including with the Society to Prevent Cruelty to Children in England, the Art Gallery in London, Ontario, and the “Shopping Bag Ladies” while living in Toronto. Mary and her sister Liz (Betty) Tower also worked together for many years selling Shaklee vitamins and supplements. Mary was especially close to her two sisters, Betty (Liz) and Cathy.

Mary passed away suddenly and peacefully in Oakville after a brief illness, with her youngest daughter, Kathryn, by her side. The family will be holding a private celebration of life in August.