Mary L. AMYOTTE

(Retired Chemistry Faculty member, Trent University 1964 -1981)
Passed away peacefully at The Briton House, Toronto on December 11th in her 98th year. Loving wife of the late James F. Amyotte. Beloved mother of Jacqueline and her husband, Peter MacKinnon. Dear grandmother of Mya and her husband, Scott Bradford and great-grandmother of their daughter, Amy. Beloved sister of the late Nuala Meagher, Dublin, Ireland. Predeceased by her parents, John Meagher and Maisie Keeling, her sister, Aileen and her brother, Thomas. Mary was born in Dublin, Ireland and emigrated to Canada in 1949. She was a graduate of University College in Dublin and studied biochemistry at the University of Toronto. Mary joined the chemistry department of Trent University in 1964, its opening year. She continued her research and teaching until she retired in 1981. Mary's special interests were her family, the rights of young people, Catholic education, and multiculturalism. She was the first woman elected to the Peterborough, Victoria Northumberland, and Newcastle Separate School Board. She was later elected to the provincial and federal Catholic school associations. She was the first woman elected as President of the School Trustees of Canada and she served on many provincial education and multicultural committees and commissions. Mary was named Woman of The Year for Ontario and was nominated for the Order of Canada. In 1984 Pope Jean Paul II awarded her a title and a Papal Medal for her outstanding work in Catholic education. Mary's legacy is her work for young people and for fellow Canadians. Visiting is to be at the Kane-Jerrett Funeral Home, 8088 Yonge Street, Thornhill Tuesday, December 14, 2021, from 6-8 pm. Mass of Christian Burial will be the following morning at 9:30 am at Blessed Trinity Parish 3220 Bayview Avenue, North York.