Mary Amelia Wood

Mary was born in Vancouver on April 1, 1944 to Eddie and Doreen (Alexander) Nelson. After the death of her mother, Mary lived with her grandparents in North Battleford and Burnaby and then in Edmonton with her father and other relatives.

A new family group was formed when her father and Brunelda (Bert) Cameron

were married in 1954. A brother, Ed, was born in 1955.

Thanks to her father's commitment to art and music, Mary was an eager student at the Edmonton Art Gallery and private music schools. As a result of study with Eddie Williams of the Alberta College Conservatory, she completed the Associate of the Royal Conservatory of Music diploma in 1966 and began teaching at Alberta College. In 1967 she began a four year stint as a first violinist with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra.

She completed a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Alberta in 1971. While at U of A, Mary met Dean Wood, and they were married in 1973. She joined Dean as a teacher at the Sundre School. They moved to Calgary in 1979 where Robert was born, and she flourished as a new mum along with undertaking further art studies.

When the family moved to Fort McMurray in 1981, Mary quickly became involved in the local arts community and became a very successful violin instructor. Several of her students won major awards at the provincial level.

Andrew was born in October 1984.

Her passion for water colours grew and she produced many and varied paintings for a successful solo show and a joint show at a local gallery. Mary returned to classroom teaching in 1990 when she became an instructor at Keyano College working with adult students to advance their basic education. In this role, she became a valued mentor to students who often had faced real challenges in their lives.

Retirement came in 2003 with a family move to Edmonton. She joined the Edmonton Medical Professionals Orchestra as a first violinist. She returned to water colours and produced an innovative body of work leading to a very successful solo show. In addition, Mary and Dean travelled frequently on cruises and coach tours. Nova Scotia was a favourite destination as was Palm Springs in the dead of winter.

Abrupt change occurred in 2017 when Mary was diagnosed with cancer. Her

eight year journey was filled with great courage and resilience. Her last few months were difficult, but she was well supported by the doctors and staff of the Cross Cancer Institute and the Grey Nuns Hospital.

She is survived by her husband Dean, son Robert (Penny), son Andrew (Alex), brother Ed and his children Kristina and Edgar.

Mary's life was dedicated to her family, her violin and classroom students, and a passion for the transcendent beauty of music and art which will live on in the hearts and minds of all she touched.

A Celebration of Life will be held on May 1 at 2:00 p.m. at the Westwood Unitarian Congregation

11135 65 Ave. N.W., Edmonton.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Youth Orchestra of Northern Alberta and Edmonton Symphony Orchestra.