CONNELLY, Mary —
Born December 13, 1922, Motherwell, Scotland
Died May 12, 2017, Toronto, Ontario.
Mary, beloved wife of John Connelly (deceased December 3, 2000), treasured mother to Frances, Paul (Joy), Geraldine, Anne Marie (Eric Hanna) and Jacqui (Bill Jeffers), predeceased by her parents, Patrick and Catherine Mackle, her siblings Alice, John, Hugh and Catherine, and son John (deceased 1957). Proud grandmother of Emily, Bryan, Margaret, John, Elizabeth (Marissa), Maddi, Mary and James.
Mary enjoyed meeting new people, finding things in common and enjoying their company. Growing up in the industrial heartland of Scotland, she most enjoyed venturing with her friends through rural Scotland and Ireland in annual pilgrimages away from the soot of depression-era Lanarkshire. Her ambition of a nursing career thwarted by illness, she happily embraced a new career as a Teacher (and one of her co-workers, John Connelly).
Mary and John began raising their five children in Scotland but moved in 1968 to Oshawa, where they become part of the thriving Scots expatriate community. Mary’s activities not only included social activities like square dancing, Scottish dancing and lively ceilidhs, but also dedicated volunteer work with the Legion of Mary, the Rose of Durham and the choir at St. Gertrude’s Parish, where she was a dedicated member for over 40 years.
Mary’s enjoyment as a Teacher was most pronounced when she was able to teach young children in the earlier grades, at St. Christopher’s and Sir Albert Love Schools in Oshawa then St. John’s, Whitby. Her lifelong love of nature expressed itself especially in teaching children about caring for the environment, as exemplified by the wondrous life cycle and migration of monarch butterflies, many years before their plight became widely known.
Upon retiring, Mary’s focus shifted to the care and improvement of her beautiful garden, in which her countless hours of labour produced delights for neighbours and her fellow members of the Oshawa garden club as well as contributions to the gardens of both friends and family members.
A devout Catholic, Mary had a personal goal of visiting all the major Marian shrines around the world, a goal she achieved with a visit to Knock, Ireland in 2013. She was also able to visit her sister Catherine and her cousin Rose, with whom she had been especially close all their lives. This journey marked her farewell visit to her extended family in Scotland and Ireland just before the onset of the dementia that was to claim her life.
Even in decline, Mary was always pleased to greet visitors. Her eyes would especially twinkle when she met children, as she seemed to share their ability to simply be in the moment. Mary’s death came peacefully as her spirit accepted her time on earth was ending.
Special thanks to Vanessa, Marilou and Mary Jean for their loving care. Thanks also to the staff at Pine and Sumac Houses of Providence, and to Trull Funeral Home.
A Funeral Mass of Resurrection will be held for Mary at Holy Name Church, 71 Gough Ave., Toronto at 10 a.m. on May 17, with burial at Resurrection Cemetery, 355 Taunton Rd. E., Whitby at noon. Friends are welcome to attend at the gravesite if they wish. In lieu of flowers, the family would welcome any donations to the Stephen Lewis Foundation, stephenlewisfoundation.org