Mary Anne Dempsey

The family of Mary Anne Dempsey (nee Vince) wish to announce that on February 23, 2023, in the early hours of the morning, Mary passed away peacefully after a brief illness. She approached her passing as she approached her life, with hope, strength and thinking of others first. Her strength and independence began in early childhood when she suffered from Cerebral Palsy. Mary had a decision to make - learn how to depend on the leg braces or to look straight ahead to the day those braces would be left behind and forgotten. To those who knew her, the decision was already made.

Mary traded her braces for roller skates which resulted in her meeting Jim on December 5th, 1970, at a Rolling Skating rink where Jim worked as a cruiser. Jim picked her up after she fell on her butt, her friends suspect it was a deliberate act to attract his attention. They married in 1973 and will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on April 14, 2023. Travelling coast to coast and spending time with their grandchildren was Mary's passion. She also enjoyed knitting and reading, if you received a home-made dish towel you knew you had a special place in her heart. Her sense of duty to friends, family and especially her elderly parents was never in doubt. Mary was not one to ask how to support her aging parents, she just knew and did not sway.
Predeceased by her parents Dorothy (nee Dyer) and Michael Vince, Mary was a life-long resident of Hamilton where she raised her family alongside her beloved husband of 50 years, She is survived by her husband Jim, sons Chris (Dawn Marie) and David (Laura), grandchildren Brandon, Cole, Kai, Amber Kayley and Elise. She will be missed by her siblings Michelle, Marsha (Paul), Michael (Dawn), Doug (Jackie), David (Rose), sisters-in-law Susan (Keith), Elma, Margaret, and 13 nieces and nephews.

Mary's family would like to thank the dedicated staff and volunteers at Juravinski Hospital and Margaret's Place for their exceptional care and compassion. Her final days were spent with family, her grandchildren who she adored, and her beloved friend Leslie Allen.

She will be remembered at a memorial service to be arranged at a later date.