Mary Patricia RAYMOND

1925 - 2023

Dr. MARY PATRICIA RAYMOND (nee HAM) On March 3, 2023, in her 98th year after a short illness and on her own terms. Born November 22, 1925 to Lelia Margarite Ham and Wesley Linton Ham, Mary was raised in Fergus, Ontario with her three younger siblings, (the late) John Ham (late Doreen), Norman Ham (Marie) and Donna Mighton (late Neil). Mary spent her youth enjoying all the advantages of a small town and its new public swimming pool (a rarity at that time), travels with her parents and siblings and cottaging in Muskoka. She excelled scholastically and developed a lifelong love of learning. She also embraced the importance of civic participation and advocating for oneself. She met her future husband, the late Rev. Laurence Clarke Raymond, before she could remember as the families shared a work connection through their fathers. From an early age, they developed a friendship that eventually turned to love. Mary cherished her childhood friends and maintained friendships with many of them throughout her life. She also made many more dear friends while attending the University of Toronto (Victoria College). Mary obtained her B.A. degree in Household Economics in 1947, winning many prizes and scholarships. In 1948, she received her M.A. degree in Food Chemistry, and in 1952 became the first student at the University of Toronto to obtain her PhD in Food Chemistry. Mary joined the faculty of Cornell University's School of Hotel Management in 1952. Clarke kept tabs on Mary while she was in Ithaca, N.Y., and after a short courtship, they wed on July 28, 1956. They soon welcomed the arrival of John and Mark, followed by Paul, Stephen and Geoffrey. Mary and Clarke spent a few years at parishes in Hamilton and St. Catharines before finally settling in Toronto in 1963. While Mary was busy raising her 5 boys, she was also drawn to many outside interests including serving on several marketing boards, a stint teaching at the University of Toronto, and a long relationship in school board activities. She served as a school board trustee and representative for the former Borough of Etobicoke Board of Education from 1980 to 1994, including as Chair from 1984 to 1989. She also served for several years as a member of what was then the Metropolitan Toronto School Board. Mary was always an advocate (no matter the context), but particularly with respect to the value of public education. Mary and Clarke both loved to travel, and especially in their retirement years, they travelled far and wide to the Caribbean, China, Australia and most of Europe. Some of these travels included tracing the paths of certain Protestant Reformers, and many included friends and clergy from Royal York Road United Church, where they were members since 1975. Aside from world travel, Mary loved the time spent each summer at the cottage on Innisfallen Island in Muskoka. She would laugh just a little bit louder and her smile would be just a bit wider. She also loved her short afternoon naps on the couch by the front door (a perfect spot to still keep an eye on things). Mary and Clarke were both avid bridge players and really enjoyed playing, bantering and laughing with friends, family and neighbours over games. Left to mourn and celebrate her long and fulfilling life are her sons and spouses, John (Everett Roberts), Mark (Tim Fitzthum), Paul (Susan Raymond), Stephen (Natasha Vandenhoven) and Geoffrey (Brenda Raymond), as well as her beloved grandchildren, Kate and John Raymond, Clarke and Karina Vandenhoven, Aidan Schöttler-Raymond and her step-grandson Max McTaggart. Mary was very proud of everyone's accomplishments and eager to hear of their adventures both near and abroad. She also leaves her surviving siblings, her brothers-in law John and Matthew Raymond, her sisters-in-law Anne Hersh and Marie Ham and many nieces and nephews. Mary's family is very grateful for the years of assistance provided by Barbara Ceh and Roman Miroutenko. Thanks also to Dr. Jen Hofner and Maria Rugg of St. Joseph's Health Centre for their support and guidance. Special thanks to Dr. Joshua Tepper and Tekla Hendrickson for their patience, perseverance and empathy. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Royal York Road United Church www.ryru.ca or MAiDHouse www.maidhouse.ca. A Celebration of Life will be held at Royal York Road United Church on Saturday, March 25, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. with reception to follow at noon in the church hall. Online condolences at www.turnerporter.ca. A private interment at Belsyde Cemetery, Fergus will take place at a later date. To view the service online please click on RYRUC's YouTube Channel link: https://www.youtube.com/c/RoyalYorkRoadUnitedChurch