Obituary of Mary Kathleen MCPHEE

July 29, 1928 – Florenceville, New Brunswick
January 13, 2021 – Calgary, Alberta

After a life well-lived, Mary passed peacefully on Wednesday, January 13, 2021. A beloved mother, grandmother and dear friend to many.

Mary grew up on a farm in northern New Brunswick. She loved to tell stories of her animals and the mischief she and her brothers got into when they were young, like jumping off the roof of the house into snowdrifts and tipping the horse-drawn sleigh on the way home from school. She grew up surrounded by animals which led to a lifelong love of all animals but especially horses and dogs. When she finished school, Mary went to Teachers’ College and taught in a one-room schoolhouse for a year. That didn’t seem to fulfil her need for adventure so she moved to Fredericton to become a nurse. There she met her lifelong friend Irene. Both Mary and Irene had many laughs reminiscing over their time in nursing school, going to Montreal to do their paediatrics rotations and then their biggest adventure, taking the train to Calgary for work at the Calgary General Hospital. Many great stories continued to be told about their fun rooming together, nursing and other adventures. It wasn’t long before they both had boyfriends, who became husbands. 

Mary and Doug (2004) had three children, Jamie (Liz), Mary Jane (Peter) and Darcy (Tania). Summers were spent fishing in the Rocky Mountains and back home on the farm in New Brunswick. Mary remained an adventurer and took up skiing in her 50’s and then golfing in her 60’s. Soon golf became her favoured activity and she had many wonderful seasons with her Ladies Only golf groups both in Calgary and PEI.

Like all good “Maritimers,” Mary had a knack for making friends out of strangers. Her accomplice in meeting people was her trusty sidekick, Roger, a small dog with a big heart and a devotion to Mary. Mary and Roger would make their daily walk a social event and they were inseparable. She knew all her neighbours, and her children’s neighbours and their children and so on. If she knew you golfed, you were counted on as a new golf partner. She had 7 ‘official’ grandchildren, Scott, Evan, Cory, Sam, Josh, Caitlin and Andrew; but she was “Grammie” to many more. She was a prolific baker of cookies and her grandchildren’s favourite was simply referred to as “Grammie Cookies.” She never seemed to arrive anywhere without a full cookie container. Later in life, she enjoyed summers in PEI with her family and friends where she could get her favourite potatoes fresh and golf by the ocean. She never forgot a grandchild’s birthday and spent as much time as she could with all of them, they were her greatest joy.

On behalf of Mum, the family would like to thank all of her physicians over the years: Drs. Chrisohou, Oyebanji and DeFina. We are deeply grateful for the outstanding care and kindness showed to her and us by the staff on Richard’s Way unit at Chinook Care Centre.

Condolences and memories may be shared and viewed on Mary’s obituary at www.McinnisandHolloway.com.

In living memory of Mary McPhee, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Chapel of the Bells, 2720 CENTRE STREET NORTH, CALGARY, AB T2E 2V6, Telephone: 403-243-8200.