Mary Evelyn Hornby, née Peate
Peacefully, after a brief illness, Mary Evelyn Hornby passed away at Seven Oaks General Hospital in Winnipeg on October 18, 2023, at the age of 96.
Mary Evelyn Peate was born on September 7, 1927, in Evanston, Illinois, U.S.A., the third of four children of Gertrude and Albert Peate, both originally of the United Kingdom. The family immigrated to Canada in 1932.
Mary grew up in the Old St. Vital area of Winnipeg, where she attended Glenwood School and Glenlawn Collegiate. In 1951, Mary married Arthur George Edward Hornby (Art). They settled in East Kildonan with their two older children in 1956. Their youngest child was born the following year.
After graduating high school Mary worked at Trans-Canada Airlines until the birth of her first child in 1952. She returned to work in the mid-sixties for a long career as a medical secretary at the Children’s Hospital from which she retired in 1990.
Mary was known for her card-playing prowess, displayed in weekly gatherings with friends over hands of Canasta. She and Art were also members of a square-dancing group for many years. They enjoyed traveling during their retirement, often with Mary’s brother Tom and his wife Ruth, and with Mary’s sister Gloria. They visited many places in the United States and made a memorable trip to the United Kingdom in 1995, when they were able to re-connect with distant relatives.
In retirement, Mary turned her secretarial and administrative skills to volunteer work, in particular with the Canadian Pacific Pensioners’ Association, from which she ‘retired’ in 2021.
Mary was predeceased by both her parents; her siblings Thomas, Gloria, and Harry Peate; her siblings-in-law; and in 2016 her husband of 64 years, Arthur. She is survived by her children Donna Fisher, Raymond (Karen), Gary (Alexandra Venema); her grandchildren Eric (Andrea), Lynn (Caelan Roberge-Toll), Gwyneth, and Colin (Mylène Déquier); as well as her great-grandchildren Freya and Talia; cousins, nieces and nephews, and friends.
The family wishes to thank the staff of Seven Oaks General Hospital and workers at Comfort Keepers for their helpfulness and care.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, and the Winnipeg Humane Society.
A celebration of Mary’s life will be held on Monday, October 30, 2023, at Chapel Lawn Funeral Home, 4000 Portage Avenue, at 2:00 pm, with interment to follow in the Chapel Lawn Memorial Gardens.
“The secret to happiness, of course, is not getting what you want, it’s wanting what you get.” – Alex Trebek