Mary Hewitt

OBITUARY MARY HEWITT On March 19, 2011 our dear Mother and Grandmother Mary Hewitt died peacefully at Vitas hospice in Naples Florida, surrounded by her loving family. Born in Toronto on April 5, 1916 to Myrtle Benedict Jowsey and Robert Jackson Jowsey, the youngest of four children, Mary grew up in Ottawa and Toronto. From 1922 on, the family spent summers on the St. Lawrence River at Heather's Point by Brockville. Inheriting the adventuresome spirit of her father, a famed prospector, Mary accompanied him to Europe in 1936, where she witnessed both the Berlin Olympics and the funeral of King George V. They visited the Vimy Memorial in France where the name of Robert Jowsey's brother is engraved. Mary and Robert Hewitt married in September 1939 in Toronto, just one week after the outbreak of World War II. In the aftermath of the war, Mary provided critical support for Bob as he built his business. At the same time, she tended lovingly to the needs of their growing family. They moved to Montreal in 1952 to found Hewitt Equipment Limited, in whose development Mary played a significant role. They lived there until shortly after Bob's death in 1992. Retaining her love of travel and boundless curiosity, Mary voyaged with Bob to virtually every continent, including a trip to the Antarctic in the 1980s. Continuing to summer in the Thousand Islands, in 1956 Mary and Bob purchased Totem Point on Tar Island in Rockport, and later retired there. Mary spent all her summers from the age of six on the River. Each summer the Island was a great centre of family gatherings and parties, bringing together many of Mary's children, thirteen grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren. She took a keen interest in the development of each one of them, and rarely forgot a birthday or anniversary. Mother of five children: Nattanya Anne, Susan (and James Henwood), James (and Suzanne), Heather (and David Green), NJ (and Zig Reders). Grandmother of Chris Ferguson (and Leslie), Greg Ferguson (and Heidi Ploeg), Heather Ferguson (and Martin Rosen), Piers Henwood, Blake Henwood, Anick Violette-Stacey (and Jimi Stacey), Michael Hewitt (and Margaret), David Hewitt (and Sarah Rachel), Stephanie and Jonathan Hewitt, Daniel, Gregory, and Anthony Green. Great-Grandmother to John and Kristina Ferguson, Sarah and Ruben Rosen, Cole and Rebecca Hewitt, Avi, Elisheva, Leah, and Yaakov Hewitt. Last summer Mary was still navigating the River in her Andress-built boat the Santa Maria. She could be seen driving her golf cart, heading to a bridge game or a party, especially if there was dancing. Ever the gracious hostess, Mary opened her home daily to friends and family with warmth and a good cup of tea. Mary was one of the longest-standing members of the Grenadier Island Country Club, and was a strong supporter of the local Rockport Recreation Centre. Mary was the matriarch of an extended family to which she was deeply devoted: a large number of Jowsey nieces and nephews, including her niece Harriet Fear-Taylor, the Hewitt cousins, and her daughter-in-law Micheline Parent-Hewitt. She also treasured the company of her many good friends at Rockport, Brockville and in Naples, where she vacationed in winter for over twenty years. Mom, we honor your laughing spirit, your grace and your generosity. We have put on the kettle for a cup of tea in your honor. In lieu of flowers, donations would be gratefully acknowledged by the family for the Montreal General Hospital Foundation - David Mulder Chair, 1650 Cedar, Room E6-129, Montreal, Quebec H3G 1A4. A celebration of Mary's life will be held in the Brockville area at a later date. For online condolences, donations and tributes please visit www.irvinememorial.com