Mary I. Kidd

Mrs. Mary Isabel Kidd was my Grade three music teacher at W.J. Lamming School in Korah Township. I loved her dearly. The way she opened that little red case, carefully lifting out her silver pitch pipe was magic to an eight year old. Mary would blow a note to get us started then continue to accompany us on the pitch pipe. My goal was to be like Mrs. Kidd and have a pitch pipe when I grew up. David I understand that you went to Parkland school where your mom was a special education teacher. She continued her love of music by having her students form a rhythm band and play at school concerts and activities. You must have some memories of other kids teasing you about your Mom’s Parkland rock and roll band!

Mary’s teaching career included music and special education in Prince, Gros Cap, Korah Townships and Sault Ste. Marie. Mary’s year end barbeques for the Parkland staff were famous.

Mary was very active in her teacher union- the Federation of Women Teachers’ of Ontario, otherwise known as FWTAO. She believed it was important to get involved instead of sitting on the side lines complaining. Mary was the local FWTAO President when I first started teaching so my federation membership certificate has her signature on it. I shall always be grateful to Mary as the local teachers union sent me to the Beginning Teachers conference that year and I was hooked on activism and the collective. Mary conducted workshops for federation at the regional level in pension, negotiations; She was the Ontario North Eastern representative on several provincial committees which meant trips to Toronto for meetings and doing training workshops across the Province.

Mary got her degree at a time when most women didn’t get their degrees. She was a role model encouraging women to get their degrees not only for pension purposes but reminding women that their husbands/ partners might not always be there to support them. There may come a time when they would be out on their own.

Mary was very involved in collective bargaining and was the Chief Negotiator for the joint OPSTF and FWTAO negotiations when she got teachers a really good collective agreement BUT then it was rolled back by the Anti-Inflation Board of Canada.

Mary was often a delegate to the annual teacher’s meetings where policies and directions where debated. Mary had a keen sense of parliamentary procedure and knew how to challenge and correct the parliamentarians. Here was this little woman from a small place in North Ontario giving advice and know how to some big Toronto lawyers. Mary was most often right.

Both Mary and Bill loved and were active in their churches. Their belief in God was an important and integral part of who they were. Many friends and acquaintances from all across Canada were part of their faith family. Mary treasured her church women’s group and she was so good about inviting others to come and be part of the group no matter what religion you professed. Mary was proud of the significant donations that she and her church raised with the yearly Alzheimer Luncheon. It was something that many people looked forward too.

Mary talked about teaching Sunday school to the adults through reading beautifully illustrated children’s stories to help make the story more meaningful. What a true teacher!

Mary believed in the power of prayer. On one road trip, Mary talked about having some discussions and solid debates with her Lord. Most of you can see and hear Mary having some good debates with God in heaven. Mary told me she found comfort in a line from St Luke’s Magnificat “My soul doth magnify the Lord and my spirit hath rejoiced in God My Saviour”

Mary loved shopping. She and her dear, close friend, sorority sister Steph Hattie kept us in stitches many times telling us about their Saturday shopping adventures buying gifts for retiring teachers.

Mary has been described as tenacious, feisty, and determined. She would agree with all of those qualities saying that those had helped her cope with the challenges life brought her whether it was her early years growing up or whether it was the many health issues and death of her dear Judith Ann and Bill. Although life was difficult sometimes she knew she was blessed to be surrounded by family and friends. She cherished among others her dear friends Agatha MacDonald, Elsie Williamson, Edith and Harry Morrow, the Hornby’s and Canon Muriel Hornby is here with us today.

She loved her grandchildren, Tara and Tasha and her great granddaughter Lexi. Mary was so happy, David, that you found a gem in the person of your wife, Debbie. You had to know Debbie was an absolute quality person being that she was from Manitoulin and had a delightful sense of humour. Mary knew she was blessed to have a son like you and a daughter in law like Debbie.

In retirement, Mary was active with the Retired Teachers of Ontario (RTO) serving as president and treasurer for 15 years. Mary was local President of the Retired Women Teachers of Ontario. Mary was proud to have served as provincial president of her sorority, Alpha Delta Kappa. Mary was dedicated to the causes for which these organizations stood. Mary often travelled with her close friend Betty Wells to the RWTO conferences about the province. Travel was special to Mary. Many times she and Bill travelled with Betty Wells to the International ADK Conventions. When I phoned Becky, Betty Wells daughter to tell her of Mary’s passing, March 30th , Becky asked” Emily do you remember what day this is”. I didn’t. Becky said how coincidental! God has ordained this as it was 2 years ago on March 30th that Mom (Betty) died. So we had a good cry for the passing of two dear friends and laughs at some of their travel stories.

This Tuesday, several of Mary’s sorority sisters will be going across the river to Sault Michigan for the American Chapter’s Bingo fundraiser. Two years ago, Mary, Steph Hattie and I went across to this event. Mary indicated that she was none too happy about playing silly bingo games and of course reminded us that there were better ways to fund raise. Well doesn’t our dear Mary win more prizes from the Bingo than anyone? So on Tuesday many of us will be having a little chuckle thinking of Mary and her many, Bingo prizes.

In 2012, Mary was recognized by the Sault Ste Marie Business and Professional Women’s Club for her contribution to improving the quality of life for women and girls while being a mentor and encourager of women getting involved in leadership roles. Mary encouraged many women teachers to take on leadership positions. I was one of those women who became a principal because of Mary.

Both Bill and Mary were recognized by the local Retired Teachers of Ontario for their contribution to RTO and education. Mary received an Honourary Life membership in FWTAO and the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario for her contribution to the Federation and education in Ontario.

Mary was noted for her cooking and entertaining. Around her Sunday evening table and in her home there might be as many as twenty five people but with Mary and Bill there was always room for one more. Mary was noted for her roast beef dinners, her fancy church lady sandwiches, her brownies with cherries and of course her famous carrot cake.

David I can hear your mother say “Now Emily Speed up, IF we are not out by 1pm we will get charged more money so get a move on because there is food at the church.

Each of us will have special memories of Mary! Let us give thanks for the blessing of knowing Mary, remembering what we have learned from her.

Blessings to you David, Debbie, Tara, Kristen, Tasha and Lexi

And God Bless you Mary!

KIDD, Mary Isabel – Peacefully with family at her side on Wednesday, March 30, 2016 at the age of 87. Beloved wife of the late William. Loving mother of David (Debbie) and the late Judith Ann. Proud grandmother of Tara (Kristin), and Tasha, and great grandmother of Lexus. Daughter of the late Walter and late Ruby Evans. Predeceased by her siblings Dorothy (late Lloyd), Geraldine (late Carl), and Bill (Rose). Also predeceased by two sisters-in-law and two brothers-in-law. Also missed by many nieces and nephews. Friends may call at the Arthur Funeral Home and Cremation Centre on Friday, April 1, 2016 from 6 – 9 pm. Funeral service to be held in the chapel on Saturday, April 2, 2016 at 10 am. Pastor Kevin Taylor officiating. Memorial contributions to the Alzheimer Society, Sault Area Hospital Foundation or a charity of choice would be greatly appreciated.

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KIDD, Mary Isabel – Peacefully with family at her side on Wednesday, March 30, 2016 at the age of 87. Beloved wife of the late William. Loving mother of David (Debbie) and the late Judith Ann. Proud grandmother of Tara (Kristin), and Tasha, and great grandmother of Lexus. Daughter of the late Walter and late Ruby Evans. Predeceased by her siblings Dorothy (late Lloyd), Geraldine (late Carl), and Bill (Rose). Also predeceased by two sisters-in-law and two brothers-in-law. Also missed by many nieces and nephews. Friends may call at the Arthur Funeral Home and Cremation Centre on Friday, April 1, 2016 from 6 – 9 pm. Funeral service to be held in the chapel on Saturday, April 2, 2016 at 10 am. Pastor Kevin Taylor officiating. Memorial contributions to the Alzheimer Society, Sault Area Hospital Foundation or a charity of choice would be greatly appreciated.