Mary Anne Mehaffey

She is survived by daughter Jane (Katie) Saunders (Steven Jacobs), son David Saunders (Robin Johnson), son Peter (Hilary); granddaughters, Katherine, Sarah, Marianna, Brooke and Erin; grandson Joseph; her three great-grandsons; stepdaughter Marcie Mehaffey and her children Hamish, Kate and Kerry; and nephew Bob MacConnell (Beatrice) and niece Susan Hagell (Jim). She was predeceased by husbands Wally Saunders and Bill Mehaffey, infant daughter (Saunders), her mother and father, and her brother George MacConnell (Gladdie).

Mary Anne was born on April 2, 1931, to Murray MacConnell and Lois Brown. She grew up surrounded by a loving family and good friends. Her dad fostered in her a love for nature and taught her how to find stillness in quiet and beautiful places, and he also taught her to drive the ice delivery truck and feel confident in the world. Her mother’s love, strength of character, and capable hands encouraged Mary to grow in self-assurance. The combination of family, friends, music, and bountiful meals brought happiness to her childhood and continued to nourish Mary and her family all her life.

Mary had many friends; through her school years in Yarmouth, at Y-camp and at Acadia, and she maintained many of those friendships for a lifetime. They brought her such joy! Mary had a special ability to touch the hearts of those she met, and she developed many close and lasting friendships throughout her life.

During her days as a wife and mother, Mary made beautiful, warm, and welcoming homes in Dartmouth and Pointe Claire. After Wally died in 1991, Mary remarried and moved to Nanaimo where she embraced her west coast family, the Mehaffeys. After Bill’s death, she returned to Yarmouth, connecting with family and old friends, and making new friends through her work with the museum, choirs, hooking groups, and playing Bridge. Her years in Yarmouth were happy ones. She said that her life had come full circle, bringing her back to the place she belonged.

But the Weymouth “farm” is the place where Mary's generous spirit was most alive. So many dear ones have spent so many wonderful times there, all within her welcoming embrace. Friends and family from far and near gathered at that table for lobsters, turkeys, speckle cakes, halibut, and hodge-podge. We sang and laughed and cried and played games and all were welcomed with open arms. She did it all, and in the later days when she couldn’t do it all, she increasingly let us do it for her. But we never could do it quite the way she did.

Her creativity showed in her love for gardening, arranging flowers, singing, painting, and most particularly, rug hooking. She was a true artist, and a mentor to many young rug hookers.

Mary Anne embraced life with joy, humor, gratitude, and curiosity. Her open-minded inquiry led her to explore many ideas, places, and philosophies. Her wisdom and open heart enriched us all. She was deeply loved, and she will remain in our hearts always.

Many thanks to her caregivers at Yarmouth Heights and Parkland at the Gardens.

Donations in her memory can be made to Yarmouth County Museum or a charity of your choice.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.JASnowFuneralHome.com for the MEHAFFEY family.