Obituary for Mary Elizabeth Gilgour
On Wednesday, July 11th, 2018, Mary Elizabeth Gilgour (McElroy) passed away peacefully at Markham Stouffville Hospital in the care of the Palliative Care Unit. Mary was born January 26th, 1947 to parents William and Helen McElroy in Chesterville, Ontario. Mary lost her courageous 2-year battle with cancer surrounded by her loving family and friends.
She is survived by her husband Graeme of 49 years, children Jason (Melissa) and Michelle. She will be greatly missed by her surviving family members; grandchildren Leslie (Adam), Brycin and Trevor; brother Bob McElroy (Nancy), sister Nancy Stacey (Andy), brother David, sister Joanie (Randy); sister-in-law Joan McElroy (Roger) and brother-in-law Larry Jackson (Kathy). Her nine nieces and nephews and seventeen great nieces and nephews will also miss her tremendously. She will truly be missed by her cousins, co-workers and close friends.
Mary is predeceased by her parents William and Helen McElroy (Casselman), brothers Roger (Joan) and Donnie McElroy, sister Kathy Jackson (Larry).
Mary grew up in Newmarket, Ontario, graduating from Newmarket District HighSchool in 1966. Mary started her career in the insurance sector that same year, at the age of 19. She worked for Confederation Life for 28 years, alongside her dear sister Kathy Jackson (McElroy). During that time she worked as an Underwriter, ending in a Senior role. Mary worked for Confederation Life until it’s demise in 1994. Mary’s division in Confed Life was taken over by Manulife Financial where she continued in her Underwriting position until 2004. For her years with Confed and Manulife she became part of their Quarter Century Club, exclusive to retirees and ex-employees, for her many years of employment. In 2004 she joined the team of Eckler Ltd where she worked as a consultant for Life, Health and Pensions until her retirement in 2015, commencing in June of her 68th year. Mary enjoyed many friendships throughout her working years and with each company she worked with.
A native of Newmarket, Mary, with her husband Graeme, spent some of their years living in Toronto and Scarborough, Ontario, finally settling their family in their forever home in Markham, Ontario, where they have lived for the past thirty plus years.
Mary and Graeme enjoyed vacationing in tropical locales, very few of which that didn’t include her brother Bob and sister-in-law, Nancy, summers at the cottage (again, usually attended or including a brother or sister or two). She very much enjoyed spending time with sisters and brothers and extended family. In later years there were very few long weekends that weren’t spent at the family cabin in Minden, Ontario. Mary had a love of flowers which was most evident in her backyard garden, her favourites being geraniums, pansies, roses, petunias and quite a few more. Mary was a watcher and had a fondness for birds; she enjoyed having birdfeeders and birdbaths in the backyard so that she could observe the many types of birds that visited each day. Mary was hard working in all aspects of her life, at work or play, at home or away, there were very few instances when she wasn’t busy doing something. She was the backbone and heart of our family and will forever be missed.
Wife, Mum, Sister, Aunt, Great-Aunt, Grandma, Cousin and Friend – she was all and more. Do go gentle into that good night. Do not rage against the dying of the light.
Special thanks to Doctor Parneet Cheema (William Osler Health), Doctor Yee Ung (Radiology), Doctor’s H. Wong and MacDonald (Respiratory) and Doctor Doherty (Oncology) all of Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Centre. Many thanks as well to the rest of the treatment teams at Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Centre and William Osler Health Centre in Brampton. With thanks also to the CCAC and S.R.T PSW’s and Med-Staff. We would also like to extend our gratitude to the palliative team at Markham Stouffville Hospital for their compassionate care.
In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to the Canadian Cancer Society or William Osler Health Centre – Brampton Civic Hospital.
A Cremation has occurred, there will be a celebration of Mary’s life Saturday, July 21st from 1 pm – 5 pm being held at:
Chapel Ridge Funeral Home
8911 Woodbine Avenue
Markham, Ontario
She is survived by her husband Graeme of 49 years, children Jason (Melissa) and Michelle. She will be greatly missed by her surviving family members; grandchildren Leslie (Adam), Brycin and Trevor; brother Bob McElroy (Nancy), sister Nancy Stacey (Andy), brother David, sister Joanie (Randy); sister-in-law Joan McElroy (Roger) and brother-in-law Larry Jackson (Kathy). Her nine nieces and nephews and seventeen great nieces and nephews will also miss her tremendously. She will truly be missed by her cousins, co-workers and close friends.
Mary is predeceased by her parents William and Helen McElroy (Casselman), brothers Roger (Joan) and Donnie McElroy, sister Kathy Jackson (Larry).
Mary grew up in Newmarket, Ontario, graduating from Newmarket District HighSchool in 1966. Mary started her career in the insurance sector that same year, at the age of 19. She worked for Confederation Life for 28 years, alongside her dear sister Kathy Jackson (McElroy). During that time she worked as an Underwriter, ending in a Senior role. Mary worked for Confederation Life until it’s demise in 1994. Mary’s division in Confed Life was taken over by Manulife Financial where she continued in her Underwriting position until 2004. For her years with Confed and Manulife she became part of their Quarter Century Club, exclusive to retirees and ex-employees, for her many years of employment. In 2004 she joined the team of Eckler Ltd where she worked as a consultant for Life, Health and Pensions until her retirement in 2015, commencing in June of her 68th year. Mary enjoyed many friendships throughout her working years and with each company she worked with.
A native of Newmarket, Mary, with her husband Graeme, spent some of their years living in Toronto and Scarborough, Ontario, finally settling their family in their forever home in Markham, Ontario, where they have lived for the past thirty plus years.
Mary and Graeme enjoyed vacationing in tropical locales, very few of which that didn’t include her brother Bob and sister-in-law, Nancy, summers at the cottage (again, usually attended or including a brother or sister or two). She very much enjoyed spending time with sisters and brothers and extended family. In later years there were very few long weekends that weren’t spent at the family cabin in Minden, Ontario. Mary had a love of flowers which was most evident in her backyard garden, her favourites being geraniums, pansies, roses, petunias and quite a few more. Mary was a watcher and had a fondness for birds; she enjoyed having birdfeeders and birdbaths in the backyard so that she could observe the many types of birds that visited each day. Mary was hard working in all aspects of her life, at work or play, at home or away, there were very few instances when she wasn’t busy doing something. She was the backbone and heart of our family and will forever be missed.
Wife, Mum, Sister, Aunt, Great-Aunt, Grandma, Cousin and Friend – she was all and more. Do go gentle into that good night. Do not rage against the dying of the light.
Special thanks to Doctor Parneet Cheema (William Osler Health), Doctor Yee Ung (Radiology), Doctor’s H. Wong and MacDonald (Respiratory) and Doctor Doherty (Oncology) all of Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Centre. Many thanks as well to the rest of the treatment teams at Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Centre and William Osler Health Centre in Brampton. With thanks also to the CCAC and S.R.T PSW’s and Med-Staff. We would also like to extend our gratitude to the palliative team at Markham Stouffville Hospital for their compassionate care.
In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to the Canadian Cancer Society or William Osler Health Centre – Brampton Civic Hospital.
A Cremation has occurred, there will be a celebration of Mary’s life Saturday, July 21st from 1 pm – 5 pm being held at:
Chapel Ridge Funeral Home
8911 Woodbine Avenue
Markham, Ontario
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