Mary Morin

Mary, our mother, was an outgoing individual who was extremely energized by people and the myriad activities that interested her - they were varied and always given her best efforts. However, she enjoyed quiet times as much as she did girl time and placed a great deal of importance on old as well as new acquaintances.

Mum lived in the present, wasn't one to worry about the past or hold onto grievances. She was very much a "pull yourself up by the boot straps and carry on" type of woman,very family oriented and sensitive to the issues of the old and younger members of our, at one time, very large extended family. She and dad always made time for their five children - no "trauma" too large or small was left unattended.

Mum wasn't concerned with the minutiae of life, she left the finances to our finance guy (dad) and the housework to mother nature. Most of the planning was left to Dad, he had a mind built for dollars and sense, not to say mother wasn't sensible, but she focused on maternal things.

Mary was born in Toronto, Ontario to Irish immigrants, Richard and Bridget McGurk. She was the oldest of five children - three brothers and one sister - Terry, John, Steve and Kathleen.

Mum went to St Joe's commercial school where she won a scholarship for her last two years at the convent school. She graduated with honours and got a job as an executive secretary. There were no organized sports at that time but Mum was an awesome double-dutch skipper, known for that, as well as being a great swimmer. She swam and was taught at the same place as Marilyn Bell (first person to swim Lake Ontario)and was probably just as good. She swam for miles out in Lake Simcoe until you could see her no more from the shore. She loved history - war movies and television programs interested her well into her married life.

My parents enjoyed many life-long friendships- Kirklands, Bakers, Dawsons just to name a few. Best friend Marianne Welsford, a bestie for decades, has been near and dear to all of us. As well as her drum corps buddy, Sandra McKeegan, gone but not forgotten.

Our mother was married to our father, Gaston, at twenty years of age. They were married May 22, 1954 at St Paul's Catholic Church in Toronto and had five children within ten years. Raising us was her life focus while our father worked two jobs to support his family. Our home was always open to friends - there was usually an extra place or two set at the table during the week for a current boyfriend/girlfriend. It was nothing for Mum to stretch the servings to accommodate any number of people - I honestly don't know how she did it, a kind of loaves and fishes thing, happily sharing whatever she had.

Their five children, in order, Anne-Marie, Michael, Philip, Gregory (deceased) and Denise; nine grandchildren, four girls, in order: Jillian, Sarah, Emma & Casey and five boys, in order: Robert, Christopher, Andrew, Mark & Patrick; six great-grandchildren, in order: Nathaniel, Allyannah, Kaylah, Savanna, Jake and Everett.

Our mother held several part time jobs during our formative years, one of them selling Tupperware dragging her huge kit bag to houses in the neighbourhood to raise extra money. She was a stay-home parent till all of us were ready for school at which time she resumed her business career for Moore Business Forms, where she assisted sales reps in an administrative role. She thrived, the employees loved her, and she found a life long friend in Marianne. I'm not sure how many years she spent at Moore but she retired in 1991 along with our dad.

Our mother enjoyed many hobbies throughout her adult life - knitting beautiful items for family members, embroidery, teddy bear making, decoupage, jewellery design and bunka to name but a few.

Our parents dedicated many years of their lives to the Toronto Optimists Drum and Bugle Corps to which four members of the family belonged: Mike on tom-toms, Phil on tympani, Greg as a drum major, and Denise in the colour guard. They travelled all over North America performing in stadiums large and small. Mum and dad were the best "roadies" a kid could have wanted. They were happy days indeed, ones filled with pride and camaraderie. Mum also enjoyed many happy years as a member of the Red Hat Society, dragging me in as a pink hatter in my fifties. It was a lot of fun, I reluctantly admit. She also belonged to a group called TOPS, where she attended weekly meetings and supplied healthy recipes and dieting tips to all of us.

Our mother was not a political person. She really didn't care for platforms and all the things that surround election and political campaigning. To be honest, I think she voted to keep peace in the household.

Our family was a member of Our Lady of Fatima parish for many years. We kids had catechism and all religious sacraments performed by Father Egan, the parish priest there for decades. Our father and I sang in the church choir every Sunday when I was older, him for most his adult life, first at St Paul's in his old neighbourhood, and at Our Lady of Fatima when they moved to Scarborough to raise their family.

Our Mum enjoyed several vacations with friends and family members - Banff, Aruba, Hawaii, Florida, Ireland, an Alaskan cruise, the Caribbean to name a few. Our father wasn't much into travel but Mum would go whenever she could. To celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary, our parents took the Rocky Mountaineer to Western Canada where they celebrated their lives and each other. Always nurturing and learning how to be best friends and parents - finer parents nowhere.

After our parents retired, they moved to Courtice Ontario and then to the retirement community of Wilmot Creek. They quickly developed a new circle of friends and engaged in shuffleboard, golf, crafts and activities around the swimming pool. Life quickly changed in 2010 when my mother suffered a stroke - she'd kill me if she knew I used the word "suffered" but suffer she did. I attempted to write a letter to a friend on her behalf after the stroke and included it in my missive, she was appalled and let me know it. The offensive word was quickly removed.

Mother suffered a number of medical illnesses following that stroke and good health never came easy following 2010. She always gave it the Irish fight, but the fight was missing in the last couple of years. The spark had faded and we knew there was change underway. Our mother's courage, strength and bravery was legend, a profound inspiration to me and to my siblings.

The final services for this wonderful lady my sibs and I call "Mum" were held at the Courtice Funeral Chapel. Her wish was to be cremated and her remains will rest with my father and brother as she would have wanted.

In closing, a short prayer:

"Take her into your arms, Lord, handle her with care.

Make up for all she suffered, and all that seemed unfair"

Rest peacefully, Mum, until we see you again.

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MORIN, Mary Margaret –

Passed away peacefully at Hillsdale Terraces in Oshawa on Tuesday April 12, 2016 at the age of 81. Beloved wife of the late Gaston. Loving mother of Anne-Marie (Robert), Michael (Paula), Philip (Julie), Denise (Patrick), and the late Gregory. Lovingly remembered by her grandchildren Robert Jr (Erinn), Jillian (Dirk), Christopher, Andrew (Jamielee), Mark, Sarah (Brad), Emma (John), Casey and Patrick Jr; and great-grandchildren Nathaniel, Allyannah, Kaylah, Savanna, Jake and Everett. Dear sister of Terry, Steve, Kathleen and the late John. Will be missed by cousins, nieces and nephews. Resting at the Courtice Funeral Chapel, 1587 Highway 2, Courtice (905-432-8484) where the family will receive friends on Thursday April 14, from 1:30 pm until time of service in the Chapel at 2:30 pm. In lieu of flowers memorial donations to the Heart & Stroke Foundation would be greatly appreciated. Online condolences may be placed at www.courticefuneralchapel.com