MARY MONICA REID

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MARY MONICA REID (nee DeSCHRYVER) The passing of Mary Reid of Winnipeg, MB occurred very peacefully in the presence of family, at the home of her daughter in St. Adolphe, MB on January 7, 2005. She was 81 years old. Mary was born on April 12, 1923 on the family farm near Romance, SK to Peter and Sidonia (nee Behiel) DeSchryver, who immigrated to Canada from Belgium. Mary received her education at Early Dawn School and was taught her teachings at St. Oswald Catholic Church. She grew up helping her mom with household duties and collecting, packaging and selling seeds by mail. Later feeling that there was no future for her on the farm; she left to work at a fruit farm picking strawberries in Dauphin, MB. A friend introduced her to her future husband Harold Reid. After harvest Mary got a job at a sewing factory in Winnipeg for about a year, while they were courting. They married in Jasper, AB on October 28, 1943. God blessed them with five wonderful children, two sons and three daughters. Life was tough having moved to Winnipeg where they later struggled to start their own business. Mary did most of the billing and secretarial work at home while raising the children. Mary was a kind, warm, loving mother and grandmother. You could always count on her to be there with a helpful hand or piece of advice. She was a member of St. John Brebeuf Parish for many years. She loved her family more than any words can express. She loved being independent, going to mass, driving, bowling and of course BINGO. She was a woman of her word and if she could have spoke to all of us when she left she would have said This life for me is truly past, I loved you all to the very last, Weep not for me, but courage take, and love one another for all our sakes. Take my strength and draw from it, all the good I have to pass and give it to your kids, you know that it will last. I love all of you! Mary was predeceased by her husband Harold; father Peter; mother Sidonia; and three brothers, Phillip, Edward and Alphons. Celebrating her passing into new life are her children, Gordon, wife Miriam (Ryan and Erin) of Vancouver, BC, Beverley, husband John (Michael, Jeffrey, Jennifer, Kelly and Joleen) of Stockholm, SK, Sharon, husband Bob (Monica, Lee-Anne and Bradley) of Calgary, AB, Brian, wife Anne (Christine, Paul and Cindy) of Winnipeg, MB, Norma husband Lorne (Marcel, Jean-Paul, Kendra, Casandra and Karina); Foster grandchildren, Marci, Elisa, Lisa and Dawn of St. Adolphe, MB. Also she leaves six great-grandchildren, Jonathan and Sarah, Trenton and Kristien, Ethan and Ashley. Our family would like to send out a very special thank you to all those involved in not only the special care, but all the love that went into caring for Mom over the last few years. You have all made her quality of life far greater than expected. Each and everyone went beyond the call of duty and that's what life is all about. We couldn't have done it without all of you. Thank You!!! Prayers of Thanksgiving will be said at St. John Brebeuf Parish, 1707 John Brebeuf Pl., Winnipeg, MB on Wednesday, January 12 at 7:30 p.m. The Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated at St. John Brebeuf Parish on Thursday, January 13 at 11:00 a.m. with Fr. Ward Jamison presiding. Interment will follow at Chapel Lawn Memorial Gardens, 4000 Portage Ave. A gathering of family and friends will follow at her son Brian's home at 10 Yarmouth Cove in Charleswood, Winnipeg, MB. Donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Society of Winnipeg. Yes God so loved the world that He gave his only Son, that whoever believes in Him may not die but may have eternal life.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 10, 2005