WHEELER, Mary (née Deremigis) –
Born November 17, 1918. Passed away peacefully of natural causes on December 30, 2020, at the age of 102. She is predeceased by her husband of 67 years, William Wheeler; parents Carmela & Peter; siblings Edward, Josephine, Constance and Dominic; and she is survived by her daughter Janice; her grandchildren John-Paul (Andrea), Tamara (Frank), and Shannon (John); and her great-grandchildren Mackenzie, Ian, Vanessa, Cameron, and Veronica–all of whom she loved and cared for deeply.
A survivor of two pandemics and many other global crises, Mary’s life exemplified great health and spirit. Born to Carmela who traveled from Pescara Italy to Toronto in 1908, Mary was born in 1918, one week after the WWI armistice and during the Spanish Flu pandemic. She grew up with her family in Toronto who managed a convenience store. During the Depression Mary had to leave school early to help tend the store and find other work to help support the family. Mary went on to maintain several jobs throughout her lifetime, fabricating many home goods, from badminton birdies to blankets.
Mary met the love of her life and future husband, Bill, by chance on a TTC streetcar in the late 1930s, and they were wed in 1943. Their daughter Janice Lynn was born in 1947 and they continued to live in Toronto over the years.
By all accounts Mary was a very energetic woman who approached all areas of her life with care and attention. She maintained excellent fitness throughout her life: her teenage grandchildren could barely keep up with her brisk walking pace! She sought out swimming lessons in her 70s and continued to swim well into her 80s. She carefully monitored her diet throughout her lifespan, and other than broken bones from time to time, Mary avoided many deleterious chronic health conditions.
Mary was a very fashionable woman with many fine outfits, she presented herself with grace and poise. She was an excellent homemaker who tastefully decorated her home and it was fastidiously maintained such that her furnishings and even her appliances from the 1950s still function and look good as new.
Mary was also very nurturing; she cared for her mother Carmela in her home for many years until she passed at age 95, and later Mary provided unflinching compassion and support for her husband Bill as he struggled with creeping blindness, deafness, and Alzheimer’s Disease for more than a dozen years.
Mary was never one to waste energy on pessimism or negativity towards others; she was always available to listen and to be supportive, and she rarely spoke an ill word. She could never deny a grandchild a second helping of dessert, and in her later years, into her 90s, she developed an interest in watching baseball with her son-in-law, Johnny, and Janice, making sure to join them for most games.
Throughout the years, Mary was always present to be with family to share the moments and she will always be cherished and loved.
If desired, donations to the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Ontario would be appreciated by the family.
Private Funeral Arrangements. If you wish to take part in Mary Wheeler’s Funeral Service, please go to distantlink.com/nfh.html on Monday January 4, 2020 at 2pm. Online condolences at newediukfuneralhome.com
We appreciate all of your love and support during this very difficult time. Please share your thoughts and memories on the Memory Wall.
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Mary Phyllis Wheeler Wednesday December 30th 2020..
Death notice for the town of: Toronto, Province: Ontario