Mary Jala

A longtime resident of Sydney’s Wentworth Park area, Mary was the eldest of three children born to Michael (Chuckie) and Margaret (Hull) Milburn in Glace Bay.

After graduating from Morrison High School, she spent three years at Glace Bay General Hospital’s School of Nursing becoming a registered nurse before earning a public health diploma from Dalhousie University. One of her first jobs was as a public health nurse based in Barrington Passage on Nova Scotia’s south shore.

Mary was active in the socialist youth movement of the late 1950s and early 1960s. It was at a gathering in Toronto that she met Tom Jala, an indomitable force who promised her that she would never be bored. And, she never was.

Marrying Tom in 1959, Mary soon found herself living in Europe where the couple spent time with like-minded people from a myriad of nations. She became pregnant while living in Budapest, Hungary and gave birth to David in Helsinki. The city was the host of the 1962 World Festival of Socialist Youth at which Tom was an active participant. In fact, Mary gave birth alone as he was in Copenhagen with Yuri Gargarin, the Soviet cosmonaut who was the first man in space.

Two years (minus a day) later, Mary gave birth to Michael in Toronto. According to Mary, Tom was in the waiting room doing a crossword puzzle at the time. She worked briefly at the Baycrest Hospital before they opted to move to Cape Breton where Tom had been offered a welding instructor position at the former Eastern Institute of Technology.

Settling in Sydney, Mary began a 25-year career at the former Nova Scotia Children’s Training Center, a provincial institution for intellectually and physically challenged children. She retired in 1994 and subsequently enjoyed 31 years of retirement.

Mary didn’t slow down during her golden years. Her adventures included a stint working at a resort in the Canadian Rockies, trips to yoga camp in Massachusetts, a tour to India and an all-girl road trip to Texas and back.

After Tom’s illness, she stayed closer to home, but was no less active. She took up painting again, was in a book club, enjoyed dancing at the legions and was a Friday supper-time regular at the Steel City tavern.

She loved walking the Baille Ard Trail, especially with son Michael. Mary was a voracious reader who made her way through thousands of literary works. She would regularly check out half a dozen or more library books every week or two.

She also loved spending time with family and friends. She liked watching curling and baseball with her sons. Her last television addiction was Chicago Med, although the Antique Road Show and the Back to the Country real estate show.

Mary enjoyed a lifetime relationship with Mira Gut, longtime home of the family bungalow. In later years, she enjoyed visits to the Lynk cottage in Round Island and with the Gillards down at the Gut.

She is already sadly missed by sons David (Helen MacCoy) and Michael. Her loss is also deeply felt by Kim O’Shaughnessey, who along with Michael was back home living with “Ma Mary” the past couple of years. Close family friends Lisa Barrett and Elizabeth Vincent are also mourning her loss.

Mary also leaves behind her five Milburn nephews - Michael, Doug, Tim, Chris and Ned and their families; two Billard nieces - Janey Proskow and Krista Gross and their families. She was also adored by her first cousins, the Hull girls, Barb, Elizabeth and Janet.

She was predeceased by her parents, husband Tom, daughter-in-law Elaine, brother Michael, sister-in-law Inga Milburn, sister Ann Billard and and brother-in-law Jack.

Visitation will take place at T.W. Curry Parkview Chapel on Friday, December 19th, 2-4 p.m. A Celebration of Life service will be held Saturday, December 20th, 1 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Mary’s name can be made to the SPCA.