Mary Milne Lorimer

Mary Milne Lorimer (nee Martin) passed away peacefully at 89 on October 30, 2024 in St. Catharines, Ontario, surrounded by her loving family. She was predeceased by her husband Dr. Donald Lorimer, and will be greatly missed by her children Donna, Michael (Rachel), and Andrea; grandchildren Matthew, Caitlin, and Alison; and numerous nephews and nieces.

Mary was born in Neepawa, Manitoba, and raised by adoptive parents, James Martin and Mary Gardner Martin. She began a career in nursing and caring for others in 1958, working as a Registered Nurse in Vancouver and Toronto for nearly a decade. She moved to St. Catharines in 1966, continuing her contributions to health care, local politics, and raising her young family.

Mary was an accomplished and passionate musician, achieving advanced levels of proficiency in piano from the Royal Conservatory at a young age, and a respectful level of facility on the cello later in life. She was a loyal supporter and long-time season-ticket holder of the Niagara Symphony. Mary was an avid and voracious reader of all forms of the written word, often finishing books given as Christmas gifts before the end of Boxing Day. Teamed with her husband Donald and various crew, she became a formidable sailor, plying the waters of Lake Ontario and winning multiple race titles at Dalhousie Yacht Club and Niagara-on-the-Lake Sailing Club.

A lasting legacy of Mary’s commitment and contribution to the local community is the Glenridge Quarry Naturalization Site, one of Ontario’s first comprehensive “Green Sites”. Mary was an active member of the Glenridge Citizens Landfill Committee, formed in 1984 as a response to environmental issues attributed to the Glenridge Quarry Landfill Site. For nearly 20 years, with Mary as Vice-President, the Committee worked with the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, the Cities of St. Catharines and Thorold, The Niagara Region and The Niagara Escarpment Commission, to address environmental concerns and provide a vision for the former landfill. Opened to the public in 2004, the Site is one of the most significant environmentally based initiatives undertaken in Niagara and represents a groundbreaking method in environmental rehabilitation. Over the years the Naturalization Site has been recognized with a number of awards, including the prestigious First Place and Gold Award at the International Awards for Liveable Communities, and awards from the American Planning Association, American Society of Landscape Architects, Ontario Public Works Association, and Canadian Urban Institute.

Our family wishes to thank her caregivers and medical professionals at Niagara Health System for their thoughtful care and kindness. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Condolences are welcome below.

A graveside interment service for Mary will be held Friday, November 8, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. at Victoria Lawn Cemetery, 431 Queenston Street, St. Catharines. Please gather at the main entrance gates just prior to 1:00 p.m.