In loving memory ~
Mary Lane died peacefully after 90 years filled with adventure, love and laughter. Her childhood was spent on a farm in Ireland. She moved to Tanganyika to marry Tom when she was just 19. She taught kindergarten, painted, worked with refugees, raised their first two kids and learned KiSwahili.
In 1964 the family emigrated to Toronto and Mary and Tom welcomed their beloved Elizabeth. In her late 40s, Mary became a Registered Nurse and worked with her new partner, Joan Hirons, in Saudi Arabia and the Northwest Territories. Mary and Joan moved to British Columbia and she was a mainstay in the childhood of her grandson Liam. She travelled extensively with her daughters and her last major trip was to China with a broken collarbone!
She loved amateur theatre and music, making sandwiches at the Monterey Centre and she was an avid gardener. She made over 500 teddy bears for children in refugee camps, as well as beautiful sweaters and blankets for her family.
Always the first to forgive, Mary modelled unconditional love for her family. If she had a choice between sitting on the sidelines and dancing, she chose always to dance. Her sense of humour and ability to laugh at herself blessed all around her.
She is missed so much by her son Bill and his wife Janet, along with their daughters Helen and Heather and their children, by her daughter Elizabeth and her daughter Patricia, son-in-law Malcolm and grandson Liam.
The family is grateful for the care shown to her by the staff at St. Charles Manor and Shannon Oaks Retirement Home.
A service will be held on June 20th at 10:30 a.m. at the Oak Bay United Church.
Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the Oak Bay United Church, the Alzheimer Society or the Sierra Club of BC Foundation.
Condolences may be offered to the family at
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