Mary Elizabeth Catharine Junke

Born Tuesday, October 31, 1922 – died Tuesday, April17, 2018

Mary passed away peacefully on Tuesday, April 17, 2018 in her 96th year, surrounded by family at Albright Manor in Beamsville.

Mary was predeceased by her parents Helen and John Victor Coleman, her husband Ross C. Junke and her son Jeffrey G. Junke; her sisters and their husbands: Patricia Gilmore (Thomas) of Montreal, Norah Douglas (Hugh) of Toronto, and Joan Craig (Keith) of Elliot Lake/Toronto; her brother in law Peter Barker of Etobicoke and her nephew Douglas Rae of Toronto; and by Ross’ brother Victor Junke (Pearl) of Virginia and their son Neil of Rye, New York.

Mary is the loved sister of Anne Barker (Etobicoke). Beloved mother of Karen (Robert Slater) of Ottawa; James (Ingrid Giesebrecht) of Ottawa; Douglas (Heather) of Jordan Station; and Rosslyn (Robert Bradt) of Barrie. Much loved Granny to Laura Beveridge (Justin) of Vancouver; Alexander Slater (Sheena Warner) of Ottawa; Vanessa Slater (Todd MacDonald) of Uxbridge; Matthew Slater (Anjelien) of Ottawa; Céline Junke (John Daley) of San Francisco; Tyson Junke (Caroline Daigle) of Montréal; Meghan Junke (Tyler Evans) and Jeff Junke of Toronto; Sarah Bradt and Coleman Bradt of Barrie. Great-Gran of Dylan Ross Beveridge, Chloe Jacqueline Slater, Luc and Callum Nelson, Anna and Gavin Slater. Mary is also remembered by her many nieces and nephews with whom she celebrated so many occasions.

Mary was born in Toronto and raised in Montreal, the eldest of five girls. Mary and her sisters could fill a room with their laughter and stories, a fine tradition inherited from their parents. Mary’s values, outlooks and sensibilities were forever shaped by this engaging family and those youthful years in Montreal. She attended Montreal High School for Girls on scholarship where she developed a love of literature, theatre, and music, and became a voracious reader and excellent badminton player. Remembering Montreal fondly, Mary could recite poetry and passages from that time well into her 90s and she had great memories of summers her family spent at a cottage in Vermont.

Shortly after her family returned to Toronto, Mary met her future husband, Ross Junke, a recent graduate of the Ontario Agriculture College, while skating at Varsity at the University of Toronto. Mary and Ross were married shortly thereafter in Vancouver, B.C., where Ross was training with the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals. After a brief time on the West Coast, Ross was shipped overseas, and Mary returned to her family in Toronto, as well as her job at the Toronto-Dominion Bank, for the duration of the Second World War. It was here that she developed her knack for both numbers and conversation.

After serving in Holland, Belgium, France and Germany, Ross returned safely home and attended The College of Education at the University of Toronto. His early days in education and in the agricultural sector took Mary and Ross first to Burlington and then to the Niagara Peninsula where they settled in St. Catharines and went on to build a happy, busy life together raising their five children. Thanks to their strong partnership, they provided their children with a wonderful childhood filled with sports, school, church, picnics at Queenston Heights and along the Niagara Parkway, drives to Niagara-on-the-Lake and family holidays in various parts of Canada and the United States.

Mary was an exceptional volunteer and community builder. Her volunteer activities were broad and varied and included the St. Catharines General Hospital Auxiliary, Rodman Hall Arts Centre, Niagara Symphony, Shaw Festival, St. Thomas' Anglican Church and the St. Catharines Rowing Club. Her countless volunteer contributions were recognized by the Province of Ontario.

Mary was politically active for most of her life. She participated in many political campaigns at all levels of government, serving on boards, knocking on doors, stuffing envelopes, making phone calls and attending leadership conventions. She was politically engaged to the end and forever a Red Tory – sometimes even a little Green.

Following the loss of her son and her husband, Mary forged a different but equally full and independent life, one filled with family, friends and travel, including a wonderful trip to Italy.

Mary was eternally curious and engaged, an avid fan of CBC Radio, TVO, PBS, the Globe and Mail, Toronto Star and the St. Catharines Standard. She was always up for lunch, a chat and a cup of tea, as anyone who ever visited her knows well. She was a loyal supporter of local wineries and restaurants, enjoyed many hours in her garden and loved visiting with family at Muldrew Lake. Mary believed in the importance of caring, kindness and friendship, considering other points of view, and taking the high road. She was forever positive, open and ready to laugh. Without a doubt, she was her family’s biggest supporter — proud of her children, their partners, her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Her family is fortunate to be part of her amazing legacy — 95 years lived well. Forever with us in our hearts and memories.

The family would like to give a special thanks to the staff at Albright Manor.

If desired, a donation in Mary’s memory may be made to the Jeff Junke Memorial Award for Excellence in Radio Journalism. Please visit ryerson.ca/giving to give online or call 416-979-5000 ext. 3719.