Obituary of Mary McElwain

McELWAIN, Mary On October 25, 2013 after a stroke, in St Catharines. Survived by son Mark (Susan), granddaughters Alexandra and Jennifer, and brothers Nick and Cornell and their families. Born in July 19, 1925 in Versailles, France to Mariara (Mary) and Nicolae Homorodean, who had left their native Romania to settle in Canada later that year. Mary grew up in Strathroy, Ontario and became a teacher in one-room schools near Sarnia. She met and married William Irwin McElwain, a Presbyterian Minister, and over 50 years of marriage, enthusiastically sustained the family as they moved from Sarnia to Montreal, Newmarket, Scarborough, Ottawa, and eventually St Catharines. She became an expert in Christian Education. After retirement, Bill and Mary traveled widely until Bill developed dementia: Mary dedicated herself to Bill's care until his death in 2004. More recently, she continued to travel to Bermuda, and energetically tended her gardens. Mary loved her family, her home, her church, her politics and her Blue Jays. She will be fondly missed. Special thanks to Mr. Egon Scheitor, Mary's devoted friend over the last few years, and the community at Immanuel Baptist Church for its warm support. Mary's family will receive visitors at the GEORGE DARTE FUNERAL CHAPEL, 585 Carlton Street, St. Catharines on Sunday, October 27th from 2-4:15pm with a service to celebrate her life following in the funeral home chapel at 4:30pm. Cremation will follow the service with a private family in Caledon East at a later date. If desired, memorial donations to the United Way of St. Catharines would be appreciated by the family.