MARY ANN ROCHON

ROCHON, MARY ANN MacDONALD July 14, 1933 - February 15, 2023 Mary was an artist, a passionate advocate for the arts and the strong, inspiring mother of five children, Paula (Doug), Joel (Alison), Lisa (John), Martin (Nadia) and Murray. Adored grandmother of 17, Patterson (Cheryl), Geneviève (Bernard), Steuart (Trish), Alexander (Lucia), Brontë, Katie, Hannah (Evan), Jack, Adam, Cameron, Kate, Connor, Ben, Claire, Dylan, Gwyneth, and William. Wise great-grandmother to 8 little ones, Aspy Rose, Amélie, Lucy, Lachlan, Eamonn, Léo, Noah and Emmett. Devoted sister to Margaret Priske, with whom she shared a lifelong friendship. Predeceased by Joel, the love of her life and husband of 62 years. Theirs was one of the great love stories. They wrote hundreds of letters to each other during their courtship and shared a deep faith throughout married life. Also predeceased by her three brothers: Raymond, James (Olga), and Martin (at age 23 over Cambrai, France, during WWII); and her sister, Agnes (Lou) Saleski. Born in Lafleche, Saskatchewan, she fondly remembered her family times there and in Moose Jaw, admiring the grit of her father, Jack and the tenacity of her mother, Pearl, who navigated the challenges of the Depression. She forever held golden memories of the big sky prairies and of her childhood skating on the ponds with long racer blades. Although she embraced the culture of the big city, her cottage life was where she truly found peace. The soaring pines and the view down her bay inspired many of her paintings. Mary's canvases caught the spirit of the forest and the shifting light and rocky shorelines of Georgian Bay, Lake Huron and Wolf Lake. Together with her husband, surrounded by children and grandchildren, Mary swam in the big waves of Lake Huron, paddled the gentle waters of the Kawartha Highlands and explored the rugged coastline of Cape Breton. She played golf and tennis in Toronto, Goderich, and in Hawaii, with Margaret and her husband, Paul. In their 80s, fit and determined, Mary and Joel walked an inspiring part of the Camino de Santiago holding hands. No Christmas was complete without Mary's Christmas cake, that she made each year with her grandchildren using a recipe handed down from her mother, or her raucous skip around the dining room as part of every birthday. Together with her husband, she hosted marriage preparation discussions for couples from the Newman Centre at the University of Toronto. She practised yoga daily, finding calm in the hectic flow of city life, and was an avid reader and CBC listener. The Toronto Music Garden was her sanctuary. Even on the coldest days, she would take destination walks in the city, or, for longer trips, hop on a streetcar. With her children still in high school, she attended classes and painting studios at U of T and received a fine arts degree. In addition to creating her own art, she showcased and promoted the work of Canadian artists for more than two decades, first at her Bayfield House Gallery and later at Galerie Rochon in Toronto. She loved her role as a knowledgeable and engaging volunteer gallery guide at the Art Gallery of Ontario for more than 20 years. With her big heart, Mary connected with people in her community. She facilitated art therapy classes, volunteered with the Good Shepherd Centre, and worked with the waterfront community, as member and chair of the Harbourfront Community Centre Board of Management. Over the last ten years, the historic arts community of San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, became a regular destination. Mary would attend workshops with artists and set up her easel to paint the city's colourful streetscapes and the bright purple bougainvillea. This is where Mary spent her last days - a place she cherished for its authenticity - surrounded by all of her children. A celebratory wake will be held on Friday, February 24th, 4–7 p.m. Please contact the family for further details. The Funeral Mass will be held at St. Thomas Aquinas Church 89 St. George Street, Toronto, on Saturday, February 25th, 11 a.m. with a Reception at Newman Centre to follow. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Mary's memory to Good Shepherd Ministries or Dignitas International.