MARY ELIZABETH CATHERINE DURHAM

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MARY ELIZABETH CATHERINE DURHAM October 16, 1905 - December 31, 2011 Peacefully, on December 31, 2011 our Aunt Mary passed away at St. Norbert Personal Care Home at the age of 106 years. Mary, the youngest child of John and Ellen Robinson, was born at Chater, MB shortly after the family moved to Manitoba from Grand Pre, Nova Scotia. She grew up in the East Bay District, north of Ste. Rose du Lac, MB and married Percy Durham on July 4, 1930. They resided in BC and Lariviere, MB for short periods of time before buying a farm in the Blackdale district, near Stony Mountain. They had an excellent orchard and gardens and supplied a variety of home grown produce and eggs to Stony Mountain Penitentiary for many years. She was the Blackdale postmistress for 28 years and was a popular Auntie to generations of children in the community. She was involved in many neighbourhood activities and was an active curler at the Stony Mountain club until age 88. They travelled extensively on a number of tours through Canada and the Untied States as well as visits to nieces and nephews in Hawaii and BC. She loved to paint and do needlepoint, read and do jigsaw puzzles. After Percy passed away in 1994, she moved to Hilltop Manor in Stony Mountain where she lived independently until early 2011. After a hospital stay in Stonewall, she resided at the Charleswood Care Centre and then St. Norbert Personal Care Home. She was also predeceased by her parents, her sisters Dorothy and Evelyn and her brothers John Jr, Fred, Howard and Edward. She is survived by her sisters-in-law Ethel Robinson (John Jr) and Margaret (Bert) Durham. Nephews Stan, Elmer, Donald and Wayne Robinson, Ralph, Eric, Edward and Lee Stacy, Eric, Fraser and Edward Durham. Nieces Reta Pozzi, Margaret Martin, Grace Lindenberg, Vera Hocking, Beverley Lewicki, Sylvia Ferens and Marilyn Bratten. Aunt Mary is remembered as a hard-working lady and very supportive to family and friends. Her calm manner and wry sense of humour always put everyone at ease during social gatherings. Her Wisdom and stories about her early years were treasured links with our heritage. We wish to express a heartfelt thanks to all the care givers at Hilltop Manor, Charleswood Care Centre and St. Norbert Personal Care Home who helped make her life such a pleasant journey. Where I have gone I am not so small My soul is as wide as the world is tall I have gone to answer the call, the call of the One who takes care of us all Wherever you look, you will find me there- In the heart of a rose In the heart of a prayer On butterflies' wings, on wings of my own To you, I'm gone But I'm never alone I am home. Funeral service will be held on Friday, January 6, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. at MacKenzie Funeral Chapel, 433 Main Street, Stonewall. Cremation will follow the service. MACKENZIE FUNERAL CHAPEL STONEWALL (204) 467-2525 mackhome@mts.net

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 04, 2012