MARY VICTORINE CURRIE (GILBERT) A

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MARY VICTORINE CURRIE (nee GILBERT) A kind soul and a brave heart has left us. Surrounded by family, Mary, our mother, grandmother, great grandmother and inspiration was called to God, January 14, 2006. With profound sorrow we watched her go, but with consolation we know she has found peace. Mary was predeceased by her husband Stuart, in 1984, and by longtime friend and companion, Lou Tremblay, in 1992. She leaves to mourn her passing five children, Carol, Marianne, Madelaine (Dave), RJ (Carolyn) and Joan (Bill); grandchildren, Chris, Corinne, Jason, Shaun, Shane, David, Amber, Ryan and Amanda; and many great-grandchildren. Mary was born in Winnipeg on April 18, 1925. She grew up in the Wolseley area and attended St. Edward's school and St. Mary's Academy. She lived most of her life in Winnipeg, with a few years spent in Shilo. In 1947, she married Stuart Currie. Despite being separated for many years, Mary remained devoted to him until his death. She survived many hardships in her life, starting with the death of her parents, George and Victorine, when she was 17. She raised five children alone, doing everything she could to keep her family together through extremely difficult times. She worked for a number of years at the Land Titles Office. Later, after a long absence from the work force, and now in her late 50s, she was determined to get a job. She applied for over 200 positions, never giving up, until she landed a secretarial position at the Manitoba Society for Persons with Disabilities, where she worked until her retirement. During the last few years Mary struggled with respiratory problems that knocked her down several times. But she bounced back again and again. In the end she faced death without fear. Small in stature, she was big in heart and courage. Most importantly, she always met adversity with humour and wit; family gatherings were always filled with laughter. Mary loved music and dancing. She enjoyed playing the piano, especially tunes to sing and dance to. Despite several foot surgeries, when she danced, her lightness on her feet always amazed. Later in life, she took up pattern dancing, which continued into her early 70s. Her lament was how hard it was to find dance partners at her age. She took pleasure in going out for dinner, always willing to try something new, especially vegetarian dishes. She liked getting together with friends, whether it was for card games in her apartment building at 64 Nassau, or for outings with the Lions Club. She always appreciated receiving a joke or funny cartoon, accumulating a chest full of them. She also loved word games like Scrabble and Jumble. She played Jumble every day to keep her mind sharp , and was proud finally to win $100 in the Jumble contest after years of weekly entries. When meeting friends or family, she thought it important to look her best. She was a sharp dresser, deftly accessorizing to add new life to old outfits, always looking smart and well-turned-out. Her Catholic faith sustained her through many crises and she attended Holy Rosary Church without fail, no matter how bad the weather. And special thanks to Father Sam. As her family grew, she continued to be its centre, keeping everyone up-to-date and never forgetting a birthday or anniversary. She loved Christmas and was delighted to see all her family together, sharing love and laughter at this time. Despite her small income, Mary gave regularly to several charities, especially those that helped children and the less fortunate. In lieu of flowers, we know she'd be pleased if well-wishers donated in her name to Operation Eyesight Universal, 4 Parkdale Cres. NW, Calgary, AB T2N 3T8. A mass to celebrate Mary's life was held on January 19, at Holy Rosary Church. Love, perseverance, courage, and above all humour; these are the life lessons she gave us. Wherever you are now Mom, we're sure you'll find dance partners. So dance, laugh and breathe easy. Much love, forever, your family.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 21, 2006