MARY BLOCK

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MARY BLOCK On June 10, 2004, peacefully in the presence of her family. Born in 1916, Mary grew up in the materially poor and culturally rich Bustle of Winnipegs Selkirk Avenue. She loved learning and language with such passion that she followed the neighbourhood children to school only to be sent home and told to wait until she was five. Her fathers early death in the Great Depression put an end to her dreams of higher education. Later, she took profound satisfaction in the University courses she did complete in the 1970s. She worked as a secretary in the Department of Vital Statistics until 1943 when she married Abraham Block (who predeceased her in 1993). A devoted mother, accomplished storyteller, loving Baba, natural clown and spontaneous wit, she is remembered by her children, Howard (Julia Ryan), Laurie (Johanna Leseho) and Michael (Andrea Wickham) eight grandchildren, many nieces and nephews as well as her brother and sister-in-law and dear friends, Sam and Jeanette Block. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Planned Parenthood of Manitoba.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jun 12, 2004