Mary was born on December 14th, 1926 in Foster, West Bolton, Quebec; the seventh and youngest child of Elroy Edson Allen and Myrtle Iona Johnson Allen. The Allen’s, brothers, Wilfred, Rupert, George, Clarence and Myrton, sister Phyllis and Mary were an extremely close knit farming family.
Just up Brill Road was Stonedale, the Johnson home and farm of Mary’s mother. In our time we knew Stonedale to be the home of Great Uncle Clarence. Stonedale held a very special place in Mary’s heart. It is often said that home is where the heart is. The Allen’s Burnby Farm and Stonedale in Foster would forever be Home to Mary.
Having the run of two farms and five big brothers and a sister to watch out for her; Mary’s childhood was full of fun and family.
Following World War II, Mary graduated from Business College attending the Maplewood Convent in Waterloo and worked at the bank in Waterloo, Quebec. There she met Peter MacNab Ross who was working at MacDonald Plastics as a Purchasing Agent. Mary and Peter were married in Foster on June 7th 1947.
Mary and Peter began their married life in Waterloo and on April 6, 1948 their first of six children; Jorja was born. In 1949 Peter’s new job with Pratt & Whitney took the family to St. Lambert, Quebec. Their second child; Peter was born on March 29, 1950. Their third child; Marilyn was born on August 25, 1953.
In the fall of 1955 Mary and Peter bought a farm and moved their growing family to Barrington, Quebec. Their fourth child; Deborah was born on May 23, 1956 followed by number five; Stuart born March 14, 1958. Douglas, the sixth and youngest, arrived on May 9, 1961. Peter continued to work in Montreal and commuted back and forth. Mary ran the farm and raised the kids. Life on the farm included raising chickens, pigs and Black Angus cattle, haying, gardening, an apple orchard, and sugaring in the spring.
The bonds of family remained strong with the Allen’s and Ross’s and trips Home to Foster were made with regularity each summer and on holidays.
In 1968 Peter’s work brought an unexpected move as he took a position with Air Craft Gear in Chicago, Illinois. By this time Jorja was in nursing school in Montreal. Peter and Mary and the rest of the children made the move from life on the farm to the suburbs south of Chicago in Palos Heights Illinois. This move away from family, friends, and HOME was something that Mary would never really recover from.
Adjusting to her new life without chores and with all the children in school, Mary took a job in bookkeeping at the Palos Bank and Trust. Mary worked at the bank for close to ten years and was very proud that she became the Manager of Bookkeeping.
In the late seventies with all of the children out of school and following Peter’s retirement, Mary and Peter moved back to Canada and took up residence in Thorsby, Alberta to be close to Peter Jr. who was now operating his own business; Peter Ross Custom Woodwork. The business moved in the early eighties, so Mary and Peter followed and settled in Lumby, British Columbia.
In Lumby, Mary and Peter lived in quiet retirement; Peter golfing and helping around young Peter’s shop and Mary reading and working on puzzles. Mary and Peter created and took pride in a huge rock garden that spanned the length of their property. By this time most of their children were married and grand children were already multiplying.
After the turn of the century Peter’s heart began to decline and in 2003 the family gathered to say goodbye. Peter managed to rally and Mary began sixteen months of round the clock care for Peter at home. Peter’s heart gave out and he finally lost his battle on April 4, 2004.
With Peter passing away, it brought an end to the daily stimulus that caring had provided. In its wake came a vacuum. Out of a sense of familiarity, Mary chose to stay in Lumby. Except for the occasional visit from Peter and Doug who lived in the area and seasonal visits from Stuart and the girls, Mary was alone. As the days turned into months and then to years, the family realized that she could no longer stay alone.
So, in August of 2007 Mary was given a firm, but loving nudge and was moved out east to live with Jorja. Mary’s enjoyment of life improved immediately as Jorja welcomed Mary into her home. This gave the two the chance to renew the special relationship that existed between them. With Jorja supplying daily companionship and activity, Mary’s life blossomed once again. Crib, canasta, hundreds of jigsaw puzzles, scrabble, the garden on the balcony, shopping and the occasional trip to the casino, helped to fill Mary’s life. During this time Mary’s pride in her appearance was evident as she was always dressed impeccably whenever the two went out.
This summer Mary began to experience a pain in her back that just wouldn’t go away. Never one fond of the medical profession, Mary put off any talk of the doctor. In the fall the pain became to great to ignore and Jorja insisted that she go to the doctor for tests. Results showed that Mary had a cancerous tumour on her lung that had spread to her spine and rib cage. Visits from all of her children and some of her grandchildren helped Mary get through the fall. On December 14th Mary turned 84 years old. As if her birthday had been a goal that she was trying to reach; her health began to decline rapidly.
One of Mary’s wishes was that she be able to die at home surrounded by family. Jorja and Debbie worked tirelessly around the clock for two weeks caring for Mary during her final days. After calls to all of her children on December 17th Mary’s condition worsened as she slipped into semi consciousness. With Jorja, Debbie and Douglas present, Mary passed away peacefully in her sleep on the morning of December 19th.
Mary leaves behind her a legacy of six children, twelve grandchildren and four great grandchildren with another on the way. Mary will finally get to go HOME to her beloved Foster when family lay her to rest in May at the Hillhouse Cemetery just down Brill Road from Burnby Farm.
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
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