Obituary of Mary Bernice Gagnon

July 16, 1927 - Essex County, Ontario

March 1, 2022 - Calgary, Alberta

After a long and eventful life, Mary Gagnon quietly passed away in Calgary on Tuesday, March 1, 2022, at the age of 94 years.

Born Mary Bernice Wilbor in Essex County, ON, on July 16, 1927, to parents Myrtle Dunn and John Wilbor.

Mary grew up in Ontario, came out West in 1946 and stayed in the Lethbridge area. She was working as a waitress in a café in Lethbridge where she met her first husband Marvin, shortly after WWII. After various moves, Mary and Marvin moved to Calgary where they had their sons. A few years after Marvin passed away, Mary met Donald Gagnon at a dance, and they married shortly after and resided in Calgary, AB.

After marrying, Don and Mary travelled a lot. Mary’s favourite place that she visited was the Virgin Islands, where she and Don spent several weeks sailing around the Virgin Islands. Mary also spent many hours helping her second husband Don navigate their small plane around western Canada, visiting numerous places and making new friends everywhere they landed.

After Don passed away, Mary moved to Airdrie, AB, to be closer to her son Paul and his family. She enjoyed many family dinners and getting to spend time with her granddaughters, Courtney and Samantha.

Mary had a very witty sense of humour and enjoyed making people laugh. She had a very sharp mind and was interested in world affairs. Mary loved music and was an accomplished, beautiful singer. Dancing of any kind was a joy of hers. She and Don spent a lot of their free time dancing with their favourite square-dancing club. She also enjoyed sewing and reading. She loved tomatoes, hamburger and macaroni casserole, apple pie, and raspberries.

When she was a small child, she acquired the nickname of “One Berry Mary” from her Uncle Les because by the time Mary arrived home from picking raspberries with the family, she only had one raspberry left in her pail.

Mary will be forever missed, always remembered as unstoppable and never forgotten.

Mary is survived by her son Neal (Nora) Sunderland and their five sons, Ryan (Andrea), Cameron (Janelle), Daniel (Sarah), Marvin (Miranda), Neal (Brittany); her son Paul (Suzan) Sunderland and their two daughters, Courtney and Samantha (Diante Brown); several great-grandchildren; her stepchildren Barry, Paul (Heather), and Denise Gagnon; and her younger sister Pat.

Mary is predeceased by three sisters, Shirley, Olive, Madeline; her brother Jack, her first husband Marvin Sunderland, as well as her second husband Donald Gagnon and her stepdaughter Betty Gagnon.

Funeral Services will be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (1504 Main Street S. Airdrie, AB) on Friday, March 18, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. Reception to follow in the Hospitality Centre at the Church. Condolences, memories and photos may be shared and viewed here.

In living memory of Mary Gagnon, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Airdrie, 300 Towerlane Drive, Airdrie, AB T4B 3L8, Telephone: 403-948-1100.