Obituary of AYER – Mary Louise

September 12, 1917 – December 18, 2009 Mary Ayer of Calgary passed away on Friday, December 18, 2009 at the age of 92 years. Mary was born and raised in the Cliff Bungalow district of Calgary, AB and grew up at a time of great changes in Calgary. She was a musician, a traveller, a businesswoman and a wonderful friend. Mary shared her talents with hundreds of people and played her piano for the delight of others. There are many of them who, as children, learned to play and love music at the keyboard with Mary. For a number of years she was the director of the Choir at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church where she cultivated musical talent and life-long friendships with local singers. Mary was also a very independent woman who travelled alone to far-off, exotic places at a time when it was very rare to do so. She was never without her camera as attested by the thousands of photos left with her family. In the late 1950s she moved herself to San Diego, CA and lived and worked there for thirty-five years. In that time she worked at a music store, taught piano lessons and recorded an album with a vocal ensemble called the Tri-Tones. She returned to Calgary in 1999 where she resided until her passing. She is survived by her nieces and nephews, Colleen McKenna, John C. Ayer III, Judy Giannakopoulis, Brian Ayer and their children. She is also survived by the surviving children of her late nephew, Donald Ayer. Mary was predeceased by her father and mother, John C. Ayer I and Eva Ayer, her brothers John C. Ayer II and Robert Ayer and her sister Ellen McKenna. The family would like to thank the staff at Cedars Villa for their unfailing care and support of Mary. She brought joy to everyone through her music and her sparkling personality. There will be a Funeral Mass in commemoration of Mary’s life at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church, 4718 Worcester Drive S.W., Calgary, AB, at 10:30 AM. on Friday, January 22, 2010. If friends so desire, memorial donations may be made to a charity of choice. In living memory of Mary Ayer, a tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES Park Memorial Chapel, 5008 ELBOW DRIVE S.W. Telephone: (403) 243-8200.