Mary Jane Downie(nee James) Passed away peacefully at the Guelph General Hospital on Saturday November 1, 2020 just a month short of the her 93 birthday.
She was born Dec 5 1927 in Toronto Ontario the second daughter of Clarence Wilbert and Hester (Ester) Mildred James (nee Brown). She was very close to her older sister Rev. Ileen Etta Munro (nee James) who married Rev. Howard Joseph Munro. She had been predeceased by an older brother Ronald James who died at birth. She was born into her mother’s large close family and growing up her best friends were her cousins and the Brown family from Addison Ontario. She loved her hometown of Mimico and was a happy smart child at school…go Marauders!. She attended Century United Church of New Toronto and was very active in music there. She had fond memories of a choral tour of the Maritimes with the church music director Earl Terry.
She attended the University of Toronto and graduated with a BSc and MSc as the first Canadian female geological physicist. During the war she offered her services as a reader of aerial photographs in Ottawa.
On September 16, 1950 she married Dr. Harry Glendinning Downie a veterinarian from Guelph. He chose the academic side of veterinary medicine at the University of Guelph and his career kept them in Guelph the rest of their lives. Mary was very involved in the life they had chosen as a member of the University wives’ group and as Harry’s supportive wife..
Mary and Harry lived in Guelph on Marlborough Road until 1957 and Rodney Boulevard until in 1980 when they moved permanently to their beloved GlenMar, a hobby farm in Puslinch near the Ellis Chapel. In 2002 they moved to a house in the Guelph Arboretum and in 2018 Mary moved to Riverside Glen Seniors’ Residence.
Mary and Harry had four children and Mary was “Nanny” to many grandchildren and “Super Nanny” to many great grandchildren and there may be more to carry on their legacy.
Suzanne Elizabeth Downie born October 25, 1952 married Gordon Downie and then Robert KIrkness. She has three children: Jeffrey Gordon Downie, Katharine Elizabeth Kirkness and Michael William Harry Kirkness. Jeff married Krista Sheppard and has three children: Dylan Downie, Taylor Downie, and Jakob Downie. Mike married Andrea Burnham and has three children: Madeleine Kirkness, Samuel KIrkness, Jude Kirkness Sandra Jean Ferguson- Escott born July 20 1954 married A. Hugh Ferguson and then Wally Escott. She has three children: Alexander Hugh Ferguson, Joshua Glen Ferguson, and Ashley Escott and good friends Kevin MacPherson and Nayssam Shujauddin. Alex married Michelle Durdle and has three children: Morgan Ferguson, Ainsley Ferguson, and Charlotte Ferguson. Josh has one child with Ann Lindsay: William Ferguson; and three children with Kate Locke: Evelyn Leppington, Olivia Leppington and Jaxon Leppington. Ashley married Teddie McDonald and has one child Monty McDonald. James Alexander Downie born November 16 1959 married Natalie Goudreau. He has two children Nicole Marie Downie and James Allan Glen Downie. Nicole has one child with Erik Shoquist; Riley Shoquist Antrim and then married Luke Antrim and has three additional children: Emersyn Antrim, Finnley Antrim and Beckett Antrim. Jimmy married Courtney Suttie and has one child Ava Downie. Janet Lynn Hainsworth born December 17, 1961 married Tim Hainsworth. She has two children: Robert Noel Hainsworth, and Mary Alice Hainsworth. Bub has a partner Tabitha Lewis. Mary has a partner Richard Bremner. Mary felt she was blessed by having one special nephew Rev Brian Joseph Munro and his wife Susie and their three boys Duncan (Morgan) Steven (Jazmin)and Matthew (Cynthia) and their grandchildren Damian, Rowynne, Colson and Ezekiel; one precious niece Faith Munro and her beautiful three girls Rhiannon Schaaf, Symphony Amberlee Schaaf and Bethany Schaaf; and one beloved niece Penny Jean Heramchuk (nee Downie) and her husband Robert Heramchuk and their two girls Karen and Tracy (John O’Donnell) and their grandchildren Victoria, Zachary, Lisa, Jason, John James, and Samantha.
Mary spent a lot of time caring for her extended family. She often stated she wished people in her life had lived longer so she had more time to enjoy her time with them. She was predeceased by the following people: her husband Harry Glendinning Downie; her mother and father Clarence Wilbert James and Hester (Ester) Mildred James (nee Brown); her older sister and husband Rev. Ileen Etta Munro (nee James) and Rev. Howard Joseph Munro; Harry’s parents Janet Allan Downie(nee McKee) and Alexander Wilkie Downie; Harry’s brother David Faulkner Downie and his wife Lucette Downie (nee Mathis); Harry’s uncle and aunt Robert Allan McKee and Nellie Gladys McKee (nee Cooper); .two cousins Delorme Brown and Don Taplin: a good friend Dr. Henry Thomas Batt and his mother “Granny” Winifred Batt and many more loved ones.
Mary loved her friends. She had several from church, high school, university and Guelph. She remembered their important dates and kept in communication. She missed each one as they passed on. She spent a lot of time with Harold and Eileen Cabeldu and Margaret and Charlie Fogarty. Mary loved a good party and a meal out when she didn’t have to do the dishes.
Mary loved to keep track of people’s special days and celebrate them with cards. Her pharmacist once said that she spent hours in his store picking out the most fitting cards and reading them to the staff. Everyone who knew her well has received many cards over the years. A card from Mary could make you feel truly remembered.
Mary loved music of all kinds. She loved to play the piano and sing gospel songs and continued until she passed away. She loved to feel a part of a choir. She loved musical movies, plays and concerts. She often would express her feelings by breaking out into song.
Mary loved to volunteer. She used her musical talents in many choirs. She pushed the treat cart at the Guelph General Hospital and Homewood and did various jobs in Chalmers United Church, Guelph and St Luke’s United Church, Cambridge.
She and Harry loved to travel especially with her sister Ileen and husband Howard Munro, and best friends Eileen and Harold Cabeldu. They travelled all throughout Ontario and Canada and then ventured to Sri Lanka, Australia, Scotland and Europe.
Mary had a very full and fulfilling life. We will miss her dearly.
For those who wish to make a memorial donation Mary set up a trust in Harry’s name for veterinary graduate student research travel. Funds may be sent to the Harry Downie Memorial Fund at Guelph Community Foundation at 46 Cork Street East Unit 2, P.O. Box 1311, Guelph, Ontario N1H6N6.More information can be found at 519-821-9216 or info@guelphcf.ca
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Mary Downie Sunday November 1st 2020..
Death notice for the town of: Guelph, Province: Ontario