MARY MINERVA MAITLAND MALCOLMSON

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MARY MINERVA MAITLAND MALCOLMSON On January 4, 2006, at Concordia Hospital in Winnipeg, Mary Malcolmson (nee Dillon), 87, passed away. Mary, beloved wife of Hugh Sr. (deceased), mother of Ian (Doreen), Hugh (Sheila) and Lee and grandmother to Kelly, Kim, Scott and Allan, was born October 18, 1918, in Coronation, AB. She spent her childhood days in southern Alberta, living in Brooks, Banff and Calgary. An accomplished pianist, in her teens she travelled the back roads of Alberta teaching piano. Graduating from the University of Alberta with a degree in Home Economics, Foods and Nutrition, Mary began her working life at Calgary Power, and then moved to a significant position with Swifts Meats out of Chicago, IL. This position, as Swift's Martha Logan , entailed extensive travel, and it was on one of those trips she met Hugh. They were married in 1945, in Banff. Part of their honeymoon was spent riding on horse back through the Columbia Icefields, much to the chagrin of Hugh. Despite the rigors of being a mother of three young children, Mary volunteered considerable time to the Junior League of Winnipeg, rising to the position of president. Widowed in her mid 40s, she continued to raise her children, as well as attend the University of Manitoba, supplementing her Home Economics degree with a B. Ed., graduating with straight A's. This additional degree lead to her second career as a teacher at several Winnipeg schools, Sacred Heart, Charleswood Collegiate and primarily Sisler High School, where she retired as department head. Mary was a woman well ahead of her time in many areas. She practiced what she taught. All her life a healthy diet was of utmost importance; an attitude that only recently has fully fallen into favour. To her family and friends she was a guiding light. She took great delight and pride in the accomplishments of her children and grandchildren. Relentlessly optimistic, she overcame much adversity in her life and never, ever complained. Though small in stature in her later years, she was a mountain of strength and will always be remembered for her indomitable spirit, her warmth and her love of family and life. A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m., Monday, January 9 at Neil Bardal Inc., 984 Portage Ave., Aubrey Street entrance. NEIL BARDAL INC. 949-2200

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 07, 2006