In Loving Memory of

Mary McLean

(Maiden: Hole)
of Edmonton
Dec 13, 2013

On December 13th, 2013 Mary passed away at the age of 101.

Both her birth and death were on Friday the 13th, a day she considered lucky.

Her husband Wilfred (Mac) McLean predeceased her in 1999 after a long and happy life together--he described her in a poem he wrote as the \"glitter in his life\".

Mary leaves her loving and much-loved children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Joan (Norman Cowling deceased in 2004) of Edmonton: Mary of Toronto/Edmonton; David (Irene Winel) of Toronto: Jacqueline, Michelle and Shannon; Donald of Calgary; Jane (Alex de Chazal) of Hong Kong: Nicholas and Emilie; Paul (Clare) of Toronto: Michael and Patrick.

Mary (Darwin Semotiuk) of London, Ontario: Krista (Alec Melkonian) of Toronto: Noah, Tyler and Lauren; Bradley (Kara) of Toronto: Duncan and Theodore.

Bill (Linda) of St. Albert: Doug of Edmonton; Nancy (Chris Douglas) of Edmonton; Parker, Jeremy and Kale; Janice (Jamie Scott) of Edmonton.

Ralph (Ginny Gray) of Vancouver: Anne of Vancouver; Karen of Durham, England/Vancouver.

Mary was the second in a family of nine born to Annie and Harry Hole. She was predeceased by siblings Bill (Jean), Jack (Lil), Ralph, Bob, Harry, Vera, Ted (Lois). She has one surviving sibling--Jim (Casey), three sisters-in-law Muriel (Harry), Ada (Ralph), Molly (Bob), brother-in-law Al (Vera) and many loving nieces and nephews.

Mary was warm, gentle, and elegant. She was energetic and had many interests. Her passion was children and teaching children. She attended Normal School and graduated from the University of Alberta during the depression and taught in rural Alberta until 1939 when she married Mac. She was an early conservationist using pencils down to the stub and rationing water use at home. She tended a large vegetable garden and enthusiastically used the produce--canning, freezing and baking. Mary was a master seamstress from clothing to upholstery and was very happy when she could use up the last scrap of material to complete her project. She loved to write letters and keep in touch--her children received letters and postcards from across Canada and around the world. She had many long and dear friendships and loved entertaining at gatherings of family and friends.

One of Mary\'s favorite expressions was \"a thing of beauty is a joy forever\" and she will be a joy forever.

The family wishes to thank the dedicated and caring staff on 6Y at the Edmonton General Continuing Care Centre where she spent her last years.

A Memorial Service to celebrate Mary’s life will take place on Saturday, January 11, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. at All Saints Anglican Cathedral, 10035 – 103 Street, Edmonton.

Donations may be made to the Alzheimer Society, 10531 Kingsway Avenue, Edmonton, AB, T5H 4K1 or the ABC Head Start Society, 9829 103 Street, Edmonton, AB, T5K 0X9.