Condolence: My Aunt Mary

As a youngster in BC I knew about Auntie Mary and other members of the family across this country through Mom and dad talk . Later, while studying Meteorology at the University of Toronto I had the opportunity to travel to Hamilton.
My first visit was for a weekend.. .. Auntie Mary treated me as a special member of the family and immediately took me shopping for a shirt and tie to match my eyes. . Her kindness included a continuous supply of perogies, cabbage rolls and Ukrainian sausage. I could see myself rivalling her two very plump dogs in very short order.
Some years later when I and family moved to Ottawa we made annual trips to Hamilton and always enjoyed visiting with Mary and Mike. They would take us to the local Mall for a coffee or to do a little shopping or out to their cottage or visit with other family.
Auntie Mary was always concerned about what our two sons liked or didn’t like.
Auntie loved to shop and seemed always in need of a new pair of glasses or pair of shoes and she would not miss an opportunity for us (mostly Judy ) to help her decide on what to buy. Apparently no one else in the family could help her with this dilemma as good as Judy could.
Return trips to Ottawa would have our bellies full, a gift or two in hand and sandwiches for the road.
Even though we moved to BC 25 years later, family ties kept us returning to Ontario each year for ten more years. Since then, however, our visits to Hamilton have become sporadic.
During our short visits we saw Auntie Mary’s battle with arthritis increase, We admired her fierce self-reliance and her ability to maintain a friendly and joyful presence in spite of it all.
From distant family members such as are we, it must be mentioned that the support given to Auntie Mary by her sister Olga and Brother-in-law Mike have been admirable and to whom we are greatly appreciative and forever indebted.
Auntie Mary’s determination, Kindness and friendliness toward us will forever remain in our memories. May she rest in peace.

Dave Mudry 16 November 2017