OBITUARY
Mary Helene Morash
July 2, 1941 – November 16, 2018
Morash, Mary Helene (Nee Chamberlain) passed away peacefully in her sleep on November 16, 2018 after a very brief illness.
Born in the small town of St. Stephen, New Brunswick, on July 2, 1941, she was the eldest daughter of Edith Mary (Barter) and George (Chum) William Chamberlain. Mary was pre-deceased by her parents and her “sister/cousin” Anne Webber. Anne and Mary had a very special bond as they lived together with Nana and Grampie Barter and their mothers, Elsie and Edith, during World War II.
Mary received her title of, “the Lady” from her father because of her gracious and refined nature, and who said, “Every family needs a Lady.”
Mary was very intelligent, compassionate and meticulous. Attention to detail and a commitment to excellence were a mainstay for her. It was said in high school, that if she ever finished all the questions on an exam, she would have led the class. She carried this trait throughout her life and invested the same level of care and dedication to everything that she pursued.
Mary attended Teachers College in Fredericton, New Brunswick and obtained her Teacher’s License in Home Economics in 1961. Before starting her family, she taught in New Brunswick, Quebec and Nova Scotia. In later years, she went back to school at Mount Saint Vincent University and graduated in 1993 with a Bachelor of Human Ecology.
Mary met her husband and lifelong partner, John, in 1963 on a flight from Fredericton, New Brunswick to Halifax, Nova Scotia. John was able to get her to talk with him, but when asked her name, she primly answered, “I don’t give my name to strangers.”
A year later, when John was working in Saint John, New Brunswick, he continued to investigate this woman who refused to give him her name. He was able to obtain the names of three women who were on the flight from Fredericton to Halifax who were residing in Saint John. By process of elimination, John called Mary’s house. Mary’s father answered the phone and a male voice asked to speak to Miss Chamberlain and Chum responded, “Which one?” After a short pause, Chum followed with, “Well, do you want to try senior or junior?” When John called Mary at the number given him by Chum, she responded that all she remembered of the man sitting next to her on the plane a year earlier was that he was wearing a funny hat. The story ends with a wedding on August 22, 1964 between John and Mary, Miss Chamberlain senior.
Mary was a quiet person and enjoyed solitary time in her inviting kitchen, reading and doing her daily crypto quote, crossword puzzles and Sudoku, while savouring her morning coffee. Mary loved doing jigsaw puzzles, playing Bridge, baking fancy cookies and sewing. When her children were young, Mary was “cab” driver, volunteer, CGIT leader, Sunday School teacher, and was always willing to find time to listen to whomever wished to talk to her.
Mary was a very kind soul who lived her life without judgement. She was the most loving and supportive person to her family. She required hugs, without fail, every time she saw her family. She was fiercely devoted to her family and was dedicated to help her small clan find happiness and peace. In Mary’s words, she, “Adored all of them.”
Mary was a beautiful artist and seamstress. This was never more evident than when she lovingly created wedding dresses for her sister, daughter and her niece from pictures they brought to her. She painstakingly built beautiful creations from cotton patterns to glorious finished products made out of beautiful fabrics. The dresses were as meticulous on the inside as they were on the outside. Mary also loved to Smock and is known for the beautiful one-of-a-kind, hand-smocked dresses that she made.
Mary is survived by her best friend and loving husband of 54 years, John A. Morash, her eldest daughter, Carolyn (James) Phillips; her son, John James George (Bev) Morash and her “baby” and youngest daughter, Gillian (Mark) Lamey; grandsons, Jeremy and Peter Phillips and Liam Lamey; beloved sister Gillian (Don) Maling; nieces Adrienne (Travis) Pringle and Krista (PJ) Maling Gleason; great niece Bailey Pringle and great nephew Alec Pringle; Sister-in-law, Nancy (David) Tingley; nephews, Jeff (Wendy) Tingley and Greg (Jocelyn) Tingley, niece Mary Ellen (Craig) MacLean; great nephews David and Donald Tingley; great nieces, Ashley and Lara Tingley, and Taylor and Sydney MacLean; and her special friend and “kindred spirit,” Ema Cakaj.
The family wishes to express sincere gratitude and thanks to Dr. Peter McGuire at the Cobequid Community Health Centre and to Dr. Daniel French and the staff on 6A at the QEII for their wonderful care and kindness.
Visitation will take place on Monday November 19, 2018 for 7-9 pm at J.A. Snow Funeral Home, 339 Lacewood Drive, Halifax. Funeral Service will take place on Tuesday November 20, 2018, 10:00 am at Rockingham United Church, 12 Flamingo Dr, Halifax. Burial will take place in Lunenburg.
In lieu of flowers, donations to Floor 6A at the QEII Hospital or to another charity of your choice, would be appreciated by the family.
To leave an on-line condolence, please visit: www.jasnowfuneralhome.com
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Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Mary Helene Morash 2018..
Décès pour la Ville: halifax, Province: Nova Scotia
