Catherine "Mel" Imelda Clory

Catherine Imelda (Mel) Clory (née Rossiter), 94, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Monday, June 15, 2026, at Victoria General Hospital in Halifax after a brief illness.

A Life of Adventure and Service

Born November 17, 1931, in Morell, Prince Edward Island, Mel was the daughter of Ernest Rossiter and Catherine (Clarkin) Rossiter. A woman of deep faith, boundless curiosity, and warm connection, she touched countless lives across nearly a century of living fully.

Mel trained as a Registered Nurse at the Halifax Infirmary, a credential that opened an unexpected door: in an era when only RNs could serve as flight attendants, she was recruited by Maritime Central Airways. She flew with MCA until her marriage in 1958, visiting cities across Europe and witnessing history firsthand.

During those years, she helped welcome Hungarian refugees fleeing to Canada - an experience that stayed with her. As she later recalled: "The courage these people showed, and the sacrifices they made when forced out of their homeland and into a new language and culture, was very impressive. Most were professionals with children, and they came to Canada to start with domestic and labourer jobs, but I admire the contribution they have made to our society."

In August 1957, a colleague looking for an earlier flight home switched shifts with Mel in London. Mel stayed an extra day. Her original flight crashed, killing everyone on board. A simple act of kindness saved her life - and transformed so many others.

Faith, Family, and Connection

After her flying days, Mel lived in Goose Bay, Ottawa, and Riverview before settling in Halifax in the late 1990s. Wherever she went, she built community. To say she was active in her Catholic faith is an understatement: she led and participated in Marriage Encounter, Cursillo, Antioch, and the Charismatic movement. At the parish level, she served on council, liturgy, and hospitality committees. She was a lay Associate of the Sisters of Charity, whose community was a bedrock for her life in Halifax. She was a devoted student of Richard Rohr, Thomas Merton, Henri Nouwen, Joan Chittister, Ronald Rolheiser, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, and James Martin. Her favourite Popes were John XXIII, Francis, and Leo XIV.

Mel's connections ran long, broad, and deep. She remained friends with people from childhood, nursing school, and every place she lived - some friendships lasting until her final days. She treasured her co-mothers-in-law Bernie, Joan, and Perla, and stayed close with her many nieces and nephews across the Rossiter, Clory, Butler, Deeble and Boyd families. Special gratitude goes to her first cousin Marjorie Macdonald, whose friendship, love, and hospitality knew no bounds.

The Things She Loved

Mel was a news junkie - her radio tuned to CBC Radio One, her TV to CBC News World or CNN. The voices of Anderson Cooper, Peter Mansbridge, and Ian Hanomansing often accompanied her as she dozed in her favourite chair. She loved curling, Sidney Crosby, Big Bang Theory reruns, and Jeopardy. Restaurant specials at Esquires and Jim's were committed to memory. Late night card games were still part of her cottage life into her 90’s. Her razor wit did not diminish as she aged.

She relished cross-country skiing during her Riverview years. She adored sunsets - but perhaps even more, her morning sun: on her condo patio, at Mike's and Nan's cottage or the lake, at Alan's and Joanne's home or cottage front porch, on Mark's and Ramil's back deck, on a boat, near any body of water, or anywhere with a view and birdsong. Her favourite walk was the waterfront at DeWolf Park, and that bench tucked around the corner to cut the wind.

Above all, she loved her family. Her unconditional adoration flowed incessantly over her grandchildren and great-granddaughter.

Family

Mel was the devoted mother of Michael (Nan), Alan (Joanne), and Mark (Ramil); proud Nanny Mel to Conar, Kiara (Doug), Kelsey (Liev), and William; and great-grandmother to Mac Imelda.

She was predeceased by her parents; her brothers Linus (Eileen), Leo (Anna), and Alfred; her sister Teresa (John) Butler; siblings-in-law Josephine and Ted Deeble, Lorraine and Pat Daley; niece Sheila Vaive; nephews Andy Butler and Patrick Daley; and the father of her children, Boyd Clory.

She is profoundly missed by her children, grandchildren, great-granddaughter, sister-in-law Bunny Rossiter, and many beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins from the Rossiter, Clory, Butler, Deeble, and Boyd families - as well as her many friends.

Arrangements

Cremation has taken place. A funeral Mass will be held Tuesday, June 23, at 12:15 p.m. at St. Benedict's Roman Catholic Church in Halifax. There will be no visitation before the funeral. A reception will follow at J.A. Snow Funeral Home on Lacewood Drive immediately after Mass. Interment of ashes will take place during the summer in Morell, PEI.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Chalice, your local food bank, or the charity of your choice. As Imelda would have wanted, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless, and welcome the stranger. Love one another.

In Her Words and Spirit

"Act justly, love tenderly, and walk humbly with your God." - Micah 6:8

"You are not a human being in search of a spiritual experience. You are a spiritual being immersed in a human experience." - Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

Never regret a day in your life. Good days give happiness. Bad days give experience. Worst days give lessons. Best days give memories.- unknown

Acknowledgements

The family wishes to thank the doctors, nurses, personal support workers, and staff at the QEII- 3IMCU, and the VG 7A palliative unit for their compassionate care.