MARY GRACE MACDONALD

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MARY GRACE MACDONALD Peacefully, and with extended family by her side, Mary passed away at Deer Lodge Centre on August 7, 2008, at the age of 95. Mary's parents, John and Mary McIvor were married in Scotland in 1911. Deciding to immigrate to Canada, they booked voyage on the Titanic, but fortunately cancelled their tickets with the news of Mary's pending arrival. Mary was born in a village near Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, Scotland on December 11, 1912, and finally arrived in Canada at the age of two. Mary, along with her two brothers lived with their parents in Keewatin, Ontario where her father was employed by the Lake of the Woods Milling. Her youth was spent swimming in the Lake of the Woods and attending dances at the Lake of the Woods Yacht Club. She moved to Winnipeg after marrying Alastair MacDonald in 1941, and often accompanied Alastair, an engineer, in his travels throughout the prairies where he and his crews constructed bridges. During the Second World War, Mary volunteered in various capacities including registering soldiers into accommodations, and serving meals when they visited Winnipeg on furlow. One of her many memories of this period is that of meeting the young Dickie Jenkins (Richard Burton) on furlow, when he was stationed in Manitoba for training. Mary was a passionate volunteer for the Children's Book Market since its early beginnings, and found great joy in researching books to establish their selling price. She would be overjoyed when finding those rare books that attracted Book Dealers, and became friends with many of them over the years. The highlight of every year was the Children's Book Market Sale where she oversaw the book shop which sold many of those rare books. She was always thrilled when her rare finds would have Book Dealers scrambling to be the first to her shop. She continued to volunteer into her late 80's. It is not surprising to note that Mary read approximately 10 library books every month. It is also fitting that she was blessed with a remarkable memory and was an avid story teller, and often broke into song when it suited the story, which personified her fiesty nature. She was never at a loss for a story, or a historic fact to share with visitors. Mary's family has predeceased her, but she will be missed by her extended family, Kiyoko, Toshio, Gaylene and Richard Nishimura, and close friends Linda and Jim Alexander. We would like to thank the staff of Unit 3-E and support staff at Deer Lodge Centre for their care and compassion over the past several months. In keeping with her request, a cremation has taken place, and she has once again been placed by her husband's side in a private burial overlooking the shores near Keewatin, Ontario. NEIL BARDAL INC. 949-2200 nbardal.mb.ca

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Aug 16, 2008