Obituary of Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Dunn
Mary passed away peacefully at North York General Hospital in her 79th year after a fortunately brief battle with cancer.
Mary was the very much-loved partner of Stephen Dunn. They shared their lives together for 60 years through many wonderful experiences including children, family relations, careers, living abroad, travel and enduring friendships.
Mary was predeceased by her parents Hewlett and Marion White and her brother-in-law Paul Dunn. She leaves behind her loving children Sheelah (Jason) and Philip, sister Dorothy and brother Douglas, grandsons Cole and Luke Stover and nephews/nieces Tracy, Laurie, Tracee, Andrea, Kristin, Shawn, Jason and Ashleigh.
Mary was born on February 1, 1946 in Toronto. She grew up in Agincourt, Ontario, back when it was a village that was clearly separate from Toronto. She attended Agincourt Public School, CD Farquarson Public School and then Agincourt Collegiate Institute. Mary studied physical and occupational therapy (POTS) at UofT in the old engineering building (SPS) before starting work at Toronto Western Hospital. Mary left the Western after 4 years to join Steve on a 10-month camper van tour of Europe.
When Sheelah was born in 1974, Mary quit work to become a full-time “Mum”. She loved being “Mum” and did it very well. When Philip was old enough to have his lunch at school, Mary requalified as a registered physiotherapist. She began working as a rehab – physio at Providence Centre. Mary specialised in movement disorders caused by neurological impairment. She took several extra courses to improve her skills. The change in stroke patients’ movement and mobility over their treatment period was astonishing to see. It gave Mary enormous satisfaction. Mary retired in 2006 after 17 years at Providence Centre.
After Steve’s retirement in 2008, a period of frequent travel began that didn’t pause until COVID-19 struck in 2020. Mary’s highlights over these 13 traveling years included New Zealand (2x), Australia, India (3x), East Africa, Cornwall and cruises to Black Sea, Baltic Sea, North Sea, Burgundy, Greek Islands and many wonderful winters in Florida. There was lots of time between trips for Mary to enjoy time with her adult children, grandsons, family and friends.
Mary made long-term friends during each stage of her life. She had regular lunch dates with two of her best friends from public school in Agincourt. She was one of a group from her university POTS class that organised class reunions every 5 years and is close friends with several of them. She had regular lunches her friends from Providence Centre who provided walking aids during her recent illness.
Taken as a whole Mary Dunn had a wonderful life that was fully lived!
A service for Mary will be held on Thursday, May 15, 2025 beginning at 11:00 am. It will be at:
Knox United Church
2569 Midland Avenue
Agincourt, ON M1S 1R3
After the service, lunch and fellowship will be available in the C.E. Building a short walk across the north cemetery from the church. We hope that everyone can join us
For friends unable to attend at the church, you are able to watch Mary’s service on LIVESTREAM.
The link will remain available for those who are unable to watch the service live.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations in memory of Mary to Knox United Church at the above address or to Canadian Cancer Society.
