MARY ELIZABETH ARNOLD (GEMMILL)

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MARY ELIZABETH ARNOLD (nee GEMMILL) Peacefully, in her sleep, on Thursday, May 4, 2000 at the Edinburgh Personal Care Centre, Guelph, Ontario, in her 100th year. Mary Arnold was a longtime resident of Manitoba, where she was born on December 13, 1900. Her early years were spent as a teacher in rural Manitoba in and around the Pilot Mound district. Over the years, until today, several of her students kept in touch, which Mary found to be very gratifying. In 1924 Mary married William James Arnold. The Arnolds spent their early married life in Baldur, Manitoba where Dr. Arnold was the area dentist and where their first three children, Betty, Marguerite and William, were born. In 1943 the family moved to Winnipeg where in 1944 their son John was born. Throughout her life Mary was very dedicated to her family and friends, earning their love and respect. She and her husband were active members of Sturgeon Creek United Church, where Mary taught Sunday School, played the piano and was a member of the United Church Womens Group. She moved to Toronto in 1981 where her beloved husband of almost 60 years died in 1984. In 1985 Mary moved to Guelph, with her daughter Betty and husband Ken, where she resided until her passing. The family want to recognize and extend their most sincere appreciation to Betty and Ken Aitken for their unwavering commitment of love and special care of mother in her latter years. There was never any doubt that whenever any of Moms needs arose, Betty and Ken were there for her . We are all eternally grateful for their often unheralded efforts on Moms behalf. Mary Arnold is survived by her daughters, Betty and husband Ken Aitken of Guelph, Ontario; Marguerite and husband George McIntosh of Galiano, B.C.; sons William and wife Janet of Winnipeg and John and wife Judy of Ottawa. In addition, Mary is survived by 12 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren, of whom she was so fond and proud. Mary will be remembered as a wonderful mother, grandmother and great-grandmother by her family, and a true friend to all who knew her. In accordance with her wishes, a family service will be held in Winnipeg where Mary will be laid to rest beside her beloved Bill at Chapel Lawn Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory to the CNIB or the Canadian Arthritis Society would be appreciated.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on May 13, 2000