Mary Irene (Cameron) Brownlee

With one of her beloved children by her side, Mary Brownlee passed away peacefully the morning of Jan. 21, 2023 after a short illness.

She will be missed and cherished by her brother Sandy and sister Emily; daughter Mary Ellen (Les), sons Tom (Heather), John (Deedee), Doug (Jo-Ann), and Don (Cynthia); 10 grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and Margaret Ann Cuddy.

She will also be missed by her wide circle of friends and her children’s friends, many of whom shared in recent days they thought of Mary as their second Mom.

Mary was predeceased by her husband of 59 years Donald; her parents Jack and Ellen Mae Cameron; brothers Len, Jack, Ernie, Phil, and Gordon; and sisters Elsie and Helen.

Known for her smile, great parties, and bustling home, Mary welcomed anyone and everyone into her house with a drink in hand and dainties on the table. When stopping by, guests would hear music playing from the kitchen and sports on the TV. With every visit, she’d discuss news, sports, family, and friends, and the people around her would get to learn something new about her, often remarking “well, I haven’t heard that one before.” She never had trouble starting and keeping up a conversation, a skill that came in handy when moving from Thunder Bay to a short stint in California, back to Thunder Bay, and eventually to Winnipeg with a husband and five children in tow. The family spent 25 memorable years in Fort Garry.

Mary worked as a Registered Nurse in nursing homes, general hospitals, and even LA County’s Emergency Room for a few months, an experience she’d never forget.

Mary made sure her family took time to appreciate how fortunate we are and after getting as much time as we did with her, we’ll never take her advice for granted. She always expressed how grateful she was to be able to live independently with the help and support of her family and caregiver Julie.

As voted by her family, Mary was the Best Mom, Grandmother, and Great-Grandmother.

The family thanks the E.R Observation staff, Dr. Shepertycky, as well as the sixth-floor staff at St. Boniface Hospital for their dedication and care in Mary’s final days.

The Celebration of Life will be held Jan. 26, 2023, at 2 p.m. at Thomson "In the Park" Funeral Home, 1291 McGillivray Blvd., Winnipeg. For those wishing to view the service virtually, please click the Join Livestream link below.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Mary’s memory to St. Boniface Hospital Foundation or a charity of your choice.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.thomsoninthepark.com for the Brownlee family.