December 13, 1933 – April 18, 2019
Mary Ellen Major (nee. Gates) passed away peacefully at Campbell House Palliative Care Facility on Thursday, April 18, 2019 at the age of 85. Mary passed surrounded by her loved ones after a fight with pancreatic cancer. She will be dearly missed by her husband George, to whom she has been married for an incredible 66 years. She was a very proud and devoted mother to her three children Rick (Marg), Kevin (Donna), and Pam. Mary was also a loving and supportive grandmother and great-grandmother who will be fondly remembered by her four grandchildren Candace, Justin, Sebastian (Beth), and Ainsley (Shane). Her three great-grandchildren Willow, Westley, and Miles were lucky enough to have known their spirited great-grandma before she passed. Mary was born in Toronto, Ontario in 1933. She grew up in the Seaton Village neighborhood north of Christie Pits park, along with her younger brother Jerry. She was independent at a young age and struck out on her own early in life. In those early years the support of her life-long best friend Jane Moonie helped her navigate the world as a young woman. Mary met her future husband George Major while they were both in high school. She married her high school sweetheart in 1953, and the two moved to Richmond Hill, Ontario to raise their family. In 1964 they acquired a modest patch of land on Parry Island, just off the coast of Parry Sound in Georgian Bay. There they built a family cottage that would be home to many happy memories. Mary and George would often spend long afternoons sailing the bay in a boat named for the first mate: The Proud Mary. Aside from exploring Georgian Bay by sail, Mary also enjoyed international travel and visited countries as diverse as Spain, Mexico, Bermuda, and Thailand. She also looked forward to her yearly escapes to Florida, where she and George enjoyed the warm weather. In 2015 Mary and George sold their home in Richmond Hill to spend the remainder of their retirement in Collingwood. This also meant Mary could be closer to her three children who had all moved to Collingwood over the years. Mary will always be remembered for her strength, independence, and loyalty to her friends and family. Many thanks to Dr. Matthew Weisbroad, the nursing team at St. Elizabeth’s, and the caring team at the Campbell House Palliative Care Facility. In lieu of flowers the family requests that you consider making a donation to Campbell House Palliative Care Facility. To donate please visit https://www.hospicegeorgiantriangle.com/waystogive
Arrangements entrusted to Chatterson Funeral Home.