Thursday, December 11, 2025
I entered Mary's world nine years ago when she turned ninety. What a stimulating ride it was.
Mary read the Globe and Mail and watched the television news almost every day until the very end. She was always up to date on events beyond her own back yard and had something to say about most of it, employing her penetrating and sparkling wit. Her letter to the editor, published by the Globe and Mail earlier this year, was an avid testament as she wrote about standing up to the Nazi's in WWII and being ready to stand up again this time against Donald Trump's threats to Canada.
It didn't take much to prompt Mary's colourful memories of growing up in Kirkland Lake. The prosperity of the gold mines during the tough depression days; the fabulous wealth of Sir Harry Oakes; the local hockey players she knew who stared in the NHL-Ted Lindsay, Dick Duff, Bill Durnan, Ralph Backstrom, the Plager brothers- all of whom gave the town the nickname of "Hockey Lake".
Mary had the skill and fortitude to record her life story in book form and it contained many tales which lead to stimulating conversation.
I was privileged to spend considerable time with Mary during her last month during which she did what she loved most- being with family who came from far and wide to visit her; cheering on the Toronto Blue Jay in their memorable World Series run, taking the microphone to speak to a film audience about her time as an Ontario farmerette when she left Kirkland Lake with other 17-18 year old high school girls to pick the crops in south western Ontario as part of the war effort, and standing beside her as she attended Remembrance Day services at Lanark Life Styles proudly resplendent with poppy and her Women's Royal Canadian Naval Service (WREN) hat and badge. On that near final day she rose from her wheel chair for the two minutes of silence and then stood again to sing O' Canada.
Thanks for the time together Mary. I wouldn't forget you.
God speed.
Gary J. Smith
