Obituary – MacDonald

MARY E. MacDONALD

Mary Elleda Macdonald of Christie Gardens, in the Cedarvale Park Neighbourhood of Toronto, died in Toronto on Jan. 25, 2019, aged 99.

She was born in Huron Township on May 17, 1919, and was the daughter of Adam and Margaret Ann (Cameron) Macdonald.

She is survived by seven nieces and nephews: Robert (Lillian Johnson) Cottrill, Kincardine; Margaret (Jon Wolfson) Cottrill, East Lansing, Michigan; Val (Jane Hietveld) Cottrill, Waterloo; John (Susan Sutaroska) MacLennan, Scarborough; Murray (Rosemary Kelleher-MacLennan) MacLennan, Campbellford; Joan (Don Hunter) MacLennan, Etobicoke; and Jane (Andrew Davies) Cottrill, Toronto; 12 great-nieces and great-nephews; and several great-great-nieces and great-great-nephews.

Predeceased by her parents, sisters and brothers-in-laws Marjorie (Jim Cottrill) of Kincardine, Lyla (Grant MacLennan) of Listowel and by nieces Mary-Anne MacLennan and Emily Cottrill.

Mary graduated from normal school in Stratford in 1937 and taught in several one-room schools as well as in the town of Kincardine prior to taking a teaching job at Humewood in the Borough of York in 1945. Mary received her BA in 1958 and a Master of Education in 1969 from the University of Toronto.

Mary was vice-principal at Charles E. Webster School from 1961 until moving to the F.H. Miller School as principal in 1966. In 1972, Mary moved to the D.B. Hood School and remained there until her retirement in 1978. Her colleagues recognized her leadership abilities and noted that her talent for music and love of reading contributed to the development of many exceptional school programs. Following retirement, Mary was very active in the International Reading Association and was its Ontario co-ordinator.

Contribution to community was important to Mary. She was actively involved in the United Church of Canada and served as an elder of the Bloor Street United Church in Toronto. Mary travelled extensively in North and South America, Europe and Scandinavia.

A scholarship (administered by University Women’s Club, where Mary was an active member) has been established to ensure that her memory will live on in another young woman’s life.

The funeral service will be held at the MacKenzie and McCreath Funeral Home in Ripley at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019, with visitation starting at 1:30 p.m.

Donations to the Alzheimer’s Society, Christie Gardens, Bloor Street United Church, or a charity of your choice would be appreciated as expressions of sympathy.

The family extends heartfelt thanks to the staff at Christie Gardens for the wonderful care over the last number of years.

 

Obituary – MacDonald was last modified: April 12th, 2019 by Dianna Martell

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