Our dear Mary …, Mary Waddell (born Mary Gilfillan) at the age of 86 passed away on November 22nd, 2024 with loved ones by her side at Victoria General Hospital. Many thanks go out to all attending staff who cared for her in her last days as she valiantly struggled with the debilitating progressive cerebral amyloid angiopathy, an incurable disease of the brain. At long last she is at peace.
She was born to George and Clarinda Gilfillan, July 5, 1938 in Sheffield UK. (Sorry Mom, I know you never wanted to share your age, but we
were bound to find out some day! 😉 ) You must know you were always beautiful for your age. You were a true natural beauty. Right till the end your skin was the envy of everyone – flawless. It was luminescent and glowing, having never worn a stitch of makeup in your life.
Mary had an inclination towards the arts at an early age. She became an accomplished painter in art school and a wonderful pianist. But in the end, she chose a profession to help others by entering the Nursing field, flourishing with ever bigger responsibilities in her career as an RN such as tending to patients on the burn unit. To unwind from her work on the ward, Mary loved to attend dances with her best friend Beryl. At one particular dance in Carlisle she met a dashing young charismatic Scotsman called Norman MacKenzie Waddell. Sparks flew between them right away and after a short courting period they were wed on November 14th, 1959. Their first-born Karen came shortly after. They didn’t have much money in the early days as Norman was just beginning his career as a mechanical engineer but they made due living in a caravan on a field in an apple orchard in Sterling, Scotland. Norman secured his first employment near Eccles and later Knutsford, in Northern England. Mom continued to work the night shifts and then their second daughter, Sandra was born.
In 1966, an opportunity to work as an engineer abroad in Quebec became available to Norman, so the family packed up and began their Canadian journey, working and raising a family in the Eastern Townships. Mary left nursing to attend to raising the family which also included three foster children along the way: Raymond, and the twins Peter and Patricia Parker. Many dear life-time friends were made in Lennoxville, Quebec. Mary had a beautiful singing voice and appeared in the annual Gilbert and Sullivan productions at Bishops University. Norman and Mary enjoyed being with family at their cottage on the weekends on Lac Massawippi. They also fell deeply in love with an area on the Eastern seaboard called York, Maine where they vacationed every summer creating beautiful family memories. She was always dad’s first mate on his sailing boats and all the wild adventures around that activity. Putting family first, being creative with all things, whether that was playing music, or sewing, was a big part of Mary’s life. But mainly it was her special loving relationship with her fist love that gave meaning and great joy to her life. They loved their special life together; like newlyweds to the end. Sadly, after moving to British Columbia Norman passed away suddenly leaving Mary rudderless.
Mom was shortly given a second chance at great love when she met Dave Finlay while volunteering at Craigdarroch Castle in Victoria. This fortuitous meeting helped each of them through a very difficult time in life. They married shortly after in 2004 and enjoyed 20 fabulous years together traveling, holiday cruising and touring around the world. They truly enjoyed watching all the grand-children and great grand children grow up. There were daily hand-held walks had many times in the Songhees area together. They loved the home they created looking out over Victoria harbour every day. A flurry of life to take in in each moment.
Mary was very lucky to have not one but two great loves in her life. A life well lived. Two men to love a beautiful woman full of love, kindness, and generosity herself. She was truly blessed to have this. And she was grateful to have a beautiful legacy in the form of her growing family.
Survived by daughters Karen (husband John Ralston, and children Calum, and Stuart) and Sandra (her children Angela / (Dean), David /(Lindsay) and Samantha). Continuing with her growing family of great-grandchildren Isla, Ethan, Everett, and Bowie. Her husband David Finlay and his children Maureen/(Roger) and Bob /(Leanne) and their children Benjamin, Miranda, Aaron, and Tyler. Including also, the many nieces and nephews back in Scotland.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests to please consider donating to Island Health.
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
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