MARY ANN BACKMAN (SCALENA) -

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MARY ANN BACKMAN (nee SCALENA) 1923 - 2012 Mom passed away on the morning of March 27, 2012. The world is a sadder and lonelier place for those she leaves behind. Born on February 8, 1923, Mom recently celebrated 89 years of a wonderful life on her birthday with her daughter Judy, son Bill, daughter-in-law Ida and niece, Leah Baird. Illness prevented her beloved sister, Lorraine, from attending. Maria was predeceased by her husband Emil, her parents Antonio and Dominica Scalena, her brothers Antonio, Cadorna, Luigi, Alex and Giovanni, their wives, as well as her mother-in-law Louise Bachman and Louise's sister Mary Kendall. Mom spent many hours caring for Gramma Bachman and Great Aunt Mary, as she did for so many others during a life lived so joyfully and selflessly, caring for family and friends, cooking and entertaining. Always being available to lend a helping hand to those in need defined her character. She was also predeceased by her first daughter-in-law, Enid, with whom she had a special relationship. Her daughter, Judy Murchison, and son Bill and his wife Ida are left to mourn the passing of a great lady. Her grandchildren Damon (Mailene) Murchison, Tony (Melanie) Backman, Leigh Backman, great-grandchildren Sheldon and Rick (Linzy), and great-great-grandson Dominick will miss this caregiver and chef extraordinaire. Besides her children, Mary is survived by her two sisters, Rose Moore and Lorraine Baird, plus many, many nieces and nephews. She also leaves countless friends and colleagues from her career at Sears and later with Air Canada, where she ran the V.I.P. Lounge at the Winnipeg Airport. No one was ever better suited to a role than Mom was to that one. Mom loved people and people loved Mom. After retirement, Mom devoted her time to volunteering in the community. She managed the kitchen for seniors at the Deer Lodge Centre, cooking delicious meals and treats for those who were no longer able to prepare food for themselves. She also actively worked for municipal elections and assorted charities, volunteering for the Heart and Stroke Foundation and other causes, along with her sister Lorraine. Lorraine was a regular visitor with Mom over her last years and especially during her time at Bethania Personal Care Home. Auntie Lorraine has been a comfort and a rock. Rose, Mary and Lorraine shared the same giving nature, and have passed these qualities along. With Aunty Rose's Safeway backroom persuasiveness (getting old bananas) and Lorraine and Maria's baking artistry, they cornered the market on Banana Nut Bread. Mom had a beautiful singing voice and could have sung professionally but gave up pursuing that dream to get married and have a family. Mom met Dad at the Olympic Hockey Rink on Church Avenue in Winnipeg's North End. It was love at first sight. They were married on July 19, 1941 and enjoyed 66 years together until Dad's passing in 2007. Dad's work at Air Canada afforded them the opportunity to travel across Canada and throughout Europe. They had many visits with Judy and her family in Toronto and with Bill and his family in England, Germany, and, of course, here in Manitoba at Brereton Lake. A woman of great inner and outer beauty, a loving wife, a wonderful mother and grandmother, a loyal sister, a true friend, a dutiful daughter and daughter-in-law and a wise and brave soul - Mom was all that and so much more. We'll miss you Mom. We'll all miss you. Family and friends will be invited to a private celebration of Mary's life. We would like to thank the wonderful staff at the Deer Lodge Centre, Riverview Hospital, the Misericordia Health Centre and Bethania Mennonite Personal Care Home for the loving care extended to Mom in her later years. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of choice.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 07, 2012