Mary-Jane MACKLIN

Mary-Jane Macklin died peacefully at home with her son Geoffrey at her side following a brief but courageous battle with cancer; she was 74.

Loving and devoted wife to her husband Bob, mother and best friend to son Geoffrey and his wife Stephanie (Salbach), adored and revered Gram to two grandchildren Natasha and Raquel. She was predeceased by her parents Harold and Jean Oswin, her husband, and her infant daughter Heather Jane.

Mary-Jane was born in Toronto as an only child, but with a large extended family. She was always very involved with church and school functions, enjoyed many summers in Frenchmans Bay as a child, and visiting friends and family at the cottage and farther afield as she got older.

Mary-Jane's calling in life however was as a nurse, which, luckily for all those who would come under her care through the years, she was accepted into nursing after graduating high school by the skin of her teeth, and some sympathetic teachers. She was a dedicated and caring OR nurse with 50 years of experience. After graduating in 1962, she was very proud of her service and accomplishments in the years that followed. She enjoyed her time in the big teaching hospitals of Toronto, East General and Western, and particularly with the Neuro team at the Mississauga Hospital. She cherished and enjoyed all of the wonderful friendships she gathered along the way. She volunteered at the Cowichan Hospital in day surgery, as well as with the high school Party Program after she retired, and was sad to give that up when it was no longer possible. She was grateful to the people in Duncan for keeping her involved with looking after people, especially those that needed it the most, you were very close to her heart.

Mary-Jane leaves behind a great number of friends from many places around the world from a lifetime of travels and adventures. She lived by 'guess what, plans have changed'; a motto that brought so much colour to her life. From the lush greens living on top of a mountain in St. Lucia, to her favourite turquoise-blue water of Nassau in the Bahamas and the white sandy beaches of the Providenciales in the Turks and Caicos. She landed high in the majestic Andes and dove past a hundred feet amongst the coral and sharks while scuba diving off French Cay. She rubbed elbows with everyone from industrialists to race car drivers and even vouched for a Duke once. It was all of these friends and families, all of the hello-agains and not-quite goodbyes that gave meaning to all of the stories and memories she was so fond of telling and remembering.

Mary-Jane was sad to leave so soon, but she wanted everyone to know that it's ok to go if you've lived your life, and that she lived hers. Perhaps a little more time would have been nice to spend with her little boys Oscar and Meyer, and her little girls Natasha and Raquel, and of course with Geoff, but then 'Mothers are allowed'. We will miss you, see you soon. XXOO

There will be a Celebration of Life in Duncan at the Genoa Bay Cafe on Sunday, May 31st from 3:00 to 5:00 PM, and also in Toronto in the summer.