Obituary of Mary Frances McMain

Mary Frances McMain
(1932 – 2024)

It is with deep sadness that we announce the peaceful passing of Mary Frances McMain on December 18, 2024, at the age of 92.

Beloved wife of Dr. Peter McMain, Mary was a devoted mother to Karen McMain (Gordon Robertson), Shelley McMain (Monty Laskin), Margot Klein (Robert Klein), and Paul McMain (Madina McMain). She was the proud and loving grandmother of Neil and Emma Robertson, Joshua, Talia, and Noah Klein, Elie and Micah Laskin, and Ethan McMain.

Mary was born in Wallasey, England in 1932 and lived in Scotland until age 23. She trained as a nurse and furthered her education by training as a midwife, bringing care and compassion to many. In 1956, she and Peter boarded the Castel Felice and sailed to Canada. They settled in St. Catharines where they raised their family. Late in life, Mary moved to Toronto, where she continued living with vitality and grace.

Mary was an active and devoted member of the B’nai Brith congregation. She had a passion for music, delighting in singing and playing the maracas in her husband’s klezmer band. Renowned for her culinary skills, she brought joy to countless gatherings by serving up dishes from Julia Child’s repertoire with flair. Her exquisite design sense was ahead of its time, as she embraced mid-century modern style long before it became widely popular. Whether cooking, entertaining, or simply spending time with friends and family, Mary had a knack for creating memorable moments and always relished a good time.

Mary will be remembered for her vibrant spirit, warmth, sense of great fun, kindness, generosity and boundless love for her family. She was a strong and loving woman who enriched the lives of all who knew her and will be dearly missed.

A funeral will be held on Sunday, December 22, 2024 at 11:00 am at Garden City Funeral Home
(formerly Patrick Darte Funeral Home) , 39 Court Street, St. Catharines, Ontario.

Shiva will be held at 115 Ava Road, Toronto on Sunday, Dec 22, 7-9 pm, Monday, Dec 23, 2-4 pm and 7-9 pm and Tuesday, December 24 from 2-4 pm and 7-9 pm. Shiva will conclude on Tuesday evening.