MARY JEAN WIRTH RN (ORRISS)

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MARY JEAN WIRTH, RN (nee ORRISS) Peacefully, on August 28, 2010 at Riverview Health Centre, with her family at her side, Mary passed away after a long and courageous battle with lung cancer and recent heart disease. She will be missed by John, her husband of 52 years and their children Jocelyn (Greg Young); Kathie (Angus Macleod) Ryan and Brandon Vidal; Sharon (Barry Adamson) Janelle and Brett; Shanda their poodle, who keeps trying to find Mary; their other family members and many friends. Mary was born at her parents', Mildred and Cecil Orriss's farm near Boissevain, MB. She attended Fairburn School and Boissevain High School and in 1951 entered St. Boniface Hospital School of Nursing. Upon graduation in 1954, Mary nursed at Carman Hospital for a year. She returned to St. Boniface Emergency and in 1960 concluded her nursing career as a Psychiatric Head Nurse, in order to raise her family. She was a member of the St. Boniface Nurses Alumni and had received her 50-year membership pin. Mary was a strong supporter of her girls in all their activities and of John's endeavors and she greatly enjoyed being a grandmother. Mom hosted and prepared many family activities both at home and at their LacLu, Ontario cottage. She was an invited member of JUGS (Just Us Girls), a social group, for over 40 enjoyable years. Mary became a member of Spinx Temple No. 116; Daughter's of the Nile in 1970 and was Temple Queen in 1983. She was honoured to have received three Supreme appointments. She experienced many years of enjoyment with the Daughter's of the Nile members in Canada and the United States as a perennial attendee at their annual Supreme Sessions. Mary was also a member of the Khartum Ladies Auxiliary and attained over 25 years of membership with each of these Shriners' related organizations. There were also many enjoyable functions and trips with John and members of The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Manitoba and the Khartum Shriners Drum and Bugle Corps. The entire family extends their sincere thanks to her personal physicians and all the many wonderful and dedicated staff of Riverview Health Centre Palliative Care Unit. A celebration of Mary's life will be held on Thursday, September 2, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. at Neil Bardal Funeral Centre, 3030 Notre Dame Avenue, Winnipeg, MB, with a private family interment at a later date. At Mary's request, honourary pallbearers are the Past Queens of Sphinx Temple No. 116, Daughter's of the Nile. There will be a viewing for family and friends on Wednesday, September 1, 2010 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. At Mary's request, flowers are graciously declined with contributions in her memory being directed to CancerCare Manitoba Foundation, 675 McDermot Avenue, Winnipeg, MB, R3E 0V9; Heart and Stroke Foundation of Manitoba, 6 Donald Street, Winnipeg, MB, R3L 0K6, or a charity of personal choice. If it hurts you to look back, frightens you to look ahead, then just look beside you...I'll be there. NEIL BARDAL INC. FUNERAL CENTRE (204) 949-2200 nbardal.mb.ca

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Sep 01, 2010