Mary Luella (Ladd) MacKay
October 1, 1936 - August 23, 2013
Mary Lou MacKay passed away at Qualicum Manor in Qualicum Beach, B.C. on August 23, 2013. Mary Lou will be dearly missed by Vernon, her husband of 57 years, and by her daughter Susan and her sons Daniel (Jody), Lewis (Laurie), and Robert. She will also be lovingly remembered by her grandchildren: Lewis, Ross, Stewart, Jeffrey, Kara, Madeline, Maxwell, and great grandchildren Gabriel and Audrey.
Mary Lou was born in Scotstown, Quebec in 1936 to parents William and Mary Ladd. She is survived by brothers Gerald (Madeline), Robert (Barbara), sister Helen Beaupre (Ronald), sister-in-law Audrey Delores (Francis) and predeceased by sisters Betty MacIver (Donald) and Dorothy Parker (Basil). She also enjoyed a loving relationship with her husband’s predeceased mother and father, Margaret (nee MacLean) and Dawn MacKay of Nova Scotia, and brother-in-law Walter (Patricia). Mary Lou will be missed by her many nieces, nephews, and their families.
After raising her four children Mary Lou went on to give of herself to others less fortunate. Mary Lou graduated from the University of Calgary with a BA in Psychology in 1979 and began working for Chilliwack Community Services. In 1987 she earned her M.Sc. in Child and Youth Care Administration from Nova University, Fort Lauderdale. Mary Lou went on to work in various roles as a Social Worker with the Ministry of Social Services, Housing and Child Protection, Fraser Cheam Home Support Society and the Ministry of Women’s Equality and The Justice Institute of BC. Her contributions to her field have been described by her peers as, “dedicated to her clients” and “the professionalism that she brings to her work is exemplary”. Mary Lou gave many hours of volunteer time to causes that were supportive in giving quality of life to others. Her compassion extended to: Canadian Federation of University Women; Milner Gardens; Special Olympics; Teaching ESL at a Vietnamese Refugee Camp in Singapore; Suicide Prevention Task Committee Chilliwack; Human Services Advisory Committee at Fraser Valley Community College; Sexual Abuse Advisory Committee; Chilliwack Hospice and Planned Parent Association.
Throughout the years, Mary Lou and Vern lived across Canada, as well as in Singapore and Malaysia. They moved to Qualicum Beach in 2003. In Qualicum Beach they quickly joined the Newcomers Club and met many new friends. Mary Lou embraced each change as an opportunity to decorate another home, make new friends, experience and embrace the cultural features of each new city. Whether it was horseback riding lessons upon moving to Calgary or Malaysian cooking and mahjong during her time in Asia, Mary Lou’s love of learning was evident in all the years of her life.
The family extends their deepest gratitude to the doctors, nurses, care aides, and volunteers from NRGH’s Palliative Care Unit and Qualicum Manor who cared for Mary Lou, and her family, during her long illness.
A Celebration of Mary Lou’s Life will be held at the Crown Mansion,
292 Crescent Rd E, Qualicum Beach, on Wednesday, August 28th, at 2:00 PM.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Cancer Society, the Heart Foundation or any charity of personal choice.