Obituary for Mary Reddon
Mary Rosella Reddon (nee Anstett), a fervent champion for her hometown of Walkerton and Bruce County; proud flag waver for Legion Branch 102 passed peacefully at St. Joseph's Nursing Home in Guelph on March 11th. When asked her age she would tell you she was born on February 9th, 1927, “you do the math”.
Mary was the seventh of 12 children born to John and Rose Anstett. Well after dementia took away her zest for life and infectious laugh, she would amaze her caregivers by naming all her siblings in their proper order, Marcel, Gerald, Francis, Jack, Wilfred, Rita, Victor, Edward, Betty, Ray and Jim. Her siblings gave her more than 70 nieces and nephews, increasing her pride in the Anstett clan. Thankfully, her illness prevented her from learning of the passing of her youngest son Tom.
She was born at the top of Mary Street in a house that was always filled with family and visitors, where New Year's Eve was celebrated with wild abandonment, filled with optimism for the year ahead, and followed by observing mass the next day. She thought kitchens were built for singing and dancing, not for cooking. However, her Dutch apple pies and butter tarts were amazing; her tea biscuits were sometimes used as hockey pucks.
Mary started working at the Bobbin Factory as a young teenager, but she never left her childhood behind. Her nine brothers made sure she had a well-rounded education teaching her how to fish, jump off Lobie's bridge, play cards and dance. Later on she added golfing, darts, and bowling to her list of sporting activities. She also loved driving, the faster the better often spraying gravel onto the lawn as she made her turn (skidded) into the driveway. Family members often recounted the time she placed a pie on the roof of the car at the grocery store, then drove home. As the pie slid back into place, she stepped out and nonchalantly picked the pie from the roof of the car as if she had planned it that way.
She loved her husband Roy who added his brother Harvey (Doris) and sister Vera (Jim) to her clan along with another half dozen nieces and nephews. Roy was a great dancer and catered to her every whim painting, wallpapering and fixing everything she managed to break. He loved to hear her laugh and found her devotion to family and church inspiring. He kept the house finances in order as math wasn't her strong suit, but she could count cards while playing euchre like a Vegas card shark. All her children and many nieces and nephews were aptly instructed in card games, but her motto was always “no cheating and be a good sport”.
She leaves behind her children Jane (Duncan), Bill (Lynn), Deb (Gary), daughter-in-law Charlotte, and Mary Ellen (her favourite fishing partner) and grandchildren Shari, Tim, Liz, Steph, Matt, Kate, Lauren, Ashleigh and Alex and eight great grandchildren Katie, Kara, Marley, Parker, Carter, Logan, Eloise and Ellie.
Mary found solace attending Sacred Heart Catholic Church on Victoria Street in Walkerton, it's where she received the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Marriage but she never missed attending a service whenever she travelled. A celebration of her life will follow when pandemic restrictions are lifted. Her final comment to her family was “love ya all”.
Private family prayers will be held at Cameron Funeral Home, Walkerton. Fr. Leszek Szczygiel officiating.
Interment in Calvary Cemetery, Walkerton.
As expressions of sympathy, donations to The Alzheimer Society of Grey Bruce would be appreciated by the family. Cards available at Cameron’s (519-881-1273). Online donations and condolences may be made at www.cameronfuneralhomes.com
Mary was the seventh of 12 children born to John and Rose Anstett. Well after dementia took away her zest for life and infectious laugh, she would amaze her caregivers by naming all her siblings in their proper order, Marcel, Gerald, Francis, Jack, Wilfred, Rita, Victor, Edward, Betty, Ray and Jim. Her siblings gave her more than 70 nieces and nephews, increasing her pride in the Anstett clan. Thankfully, her illness prevented her from learning of the passing of her youngest son Tom.
She was born at the top of Mary Street in a house that was always filled with family and visitors, where New Year's Eve was celebrated with wild abandonment, filled with optimism for the year ahead, and followed by observing mass the next day. She thought kitchens were built for singing and dancing, not for cooking. However, her Dutch apple pies and butter tarts were amazing; her tea biscuits were sometimes used as hockey pucks.
Mary started working at the Bobbin Factory as a young teenager, but she never left her childhood behind. Her nine brothers made sure she had a well-rounded education teaching her how to fish, jump off Lobie's bridge, play cards and dance. Later on she added golfing, darts, and bowling to her list of sporting activities. She also loved driving, the faster the better often spraying gravel onto the lawn as she made her turn (skidded) into the driveway. Family members often recounted the time she placed a pie on the roof of the car at the grocery store, then drove home. As the pie slid back into place, she stepped out and nonchalantly picked the pie from the roof of the car as if she had planned it that way.
She loved her husband Roy who added his brother Harvey (Doris) and sister Vera (Jim) to her clan along with another half dozen nieces and nephews. Roy was a great dancer and catered to her every whim painting, wallpapering and fixing everything she managed to break. He loved to hear her laugh and found her devotion to family and church inspiring. He kept the house finances in order as math wasn't her strong suit, but she could count cards while playing euchre like a Vegas card shark. All her children and many nieces and nephews were aptly instructed in card games, but her motto was always “no cheating and be a good sport”.
She leaves behind her children Jane (Duncan), Bill (Lynn), Deb (Gary), daughter-in-law Charlotte, and Mary Ellen (her favourite fishing partner) and grandchildren Shari, Tim, Liz, Steph, Matt, Kate, Lauren, Ashleigh and Alex and eight great grandchildren Katie, Kara, Marley, Parker, Carter, Logan, Eloise and Ellie.
Mary found solace attending Sacred Heart Catholic Church on Victoria Street in Walkerton, it's where she received the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Marriage but she never missed attending a service whenever she travelled. A celebration of her life will follow when pandemic restrictions are lifted. Her final comment to her family was “love ya all”.
Private family prayers will be held at Cameron Funeral Home, Walkerton. Fr. Leszek Szczygiel officiating.
Interment in Calvary Cemetery, Walkerton.
As expressions of sympathy, donations to The Alzheimer Society of Grey Bruce would be appreciated by the family. Cards available at Cameron’s (519-881-1273). Online donations and condolences may be made at www.cameronfuneralhomes.com