Obituary of Mary Louise Toews

To watch the recording of the service click this link

https://video.ibm.com/embed/recorded/133121397

Mary Louise Toews

Mary passed away gracefully into the Lord's Hands on October 6, 2023 at St. Paul’s Hospital Palliative Care Unit after a brief battle with cancer at age 86. 

She is survived by: siblings and extended family, Art (Carol) Toews of Surrey, B.C., Helen Holmes of Mayfair SK., Walter Toews of Spiritwood, SK., George (Jean) Toews of Saskatoon, SK., Hilda Stanwood of Yarmouth, NS., Arnold (Jeanette) Toews of Calgary AB., Dorothy and Art Talbot of Tees, AB.; sister-in-law, Marion Toews of Saskatoon, SK.; also proudly treasured her 32 nieces and nephews and 35 great-nieces and great-nephews. 

Mary was predeceased by her parents, John and Helen Toews; brothers, Johnny Toews and Bernhard (Florence) Toews; sister, Elizabeth (Jerry) Evanishen; and brother-in-law, Gilbert Holmes. 

Mary was born on December 18, 1936 and was raised on their farm in Mayfair, SK.  After grade 12, Mary went to nursing school at St. Paul’s Hospital and graduated in 1958.  Through nursing school, Mary made many lifelong friendships that she cherished.  Her nursing career started in small hospitals in Arborfield and Hudson Bay.  Mary then returned to the University of Saskatchewan to get her post-graduate in Nursing Administration.  This resulted in working in several management positions: Director of Nursing in Revelstoke, B.C. for five years, Nurse Administrator of the Pemberton Health Centre for four years and Director of Resident Care at Willingdon Park Hospital in Burnaby, B.C. for two years.  Mary was a true visionary and helped design the Revelstoke Hospital during her time there.  Mary also worked as a nurse in several northern communities in La Loche and Cumberland House in Saskatchewan; Greenville, Port Simpson, Hazelton, Kitkatla and Klemtu in B.C.  Once she was tired of being “on call” in these communities, she headed south.  She spent her last 10 years of nursing at St. Vincent’s Langara (Extended Care Facility) in Vanouver, B.C., as a team leader.

During her nursing career she took breaks to relieve “burn out” and took on other endeavours including studying Commercial Cooking at Kelsey Institute in Saskatoon, SK. (from 1969-1970) and worked as a cook at a Fishing Lodge near Sioux Narrows, Ontario for five months.  Then took a Certified General Accounting course at UBC and worked as an accounts payable clerk (1981-1985) and then owned and operated a small motel in Penticton, BC. (1989-1990). Through nursing school and her nursing career, Mary made many lifelong friendships that she cherished.

Mary had many hobbies and interests including receiving her private pilot’s license while working in Revelstoke (1967), mountain hiking and downhill skiing.  She also did cross-country skiing and spring and fall hikes with the Saskatoon Nordic Ski Club.  Mary never took for granted the little things in life: she truly enjoyed her daily walks around the South Saskatoon River trails.  Also, through her involvement in the Saskatoon Nature Society to further support her love of bird watching and became more proficient at identifying our “feathered friends”.

After retirement, Mary returned to Saskatoon in 2003, where she kept busy through volunteering once a week at the Village Green Thrift Shop as a cashier, volunteering at City Hospital, and attended First Mennonite Church where she joined the quilting club.  Mary enjoyed visiting/attending family reunions and helping family whenever possible.  Mary also made herself available to look after great nieces and nephews and enjoyed watching them participate in sporting events, school recitals and furthering their education.

In September 2020, Mary moved into McClure Place and then in December 2020 she moved into Amy McClure House where she resided until her passing.

The family would like to extend a big thank you to Amy McClure and St. Paul’s Palliative Care Unit for their care and compassion for our “Aunt Mary”, it will never be forgotten.

Donations may be made to Parkinson’s Foundation or a charity of your choice.

A Celebration of Life with be held at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 21, 2023 at Saskatoon Funeral Home. 

A private family interment will be held on Sunday, October 22, 2023 at Hoffnungsfelder Mennonite Cemetery in Mayfair, Saskatchewan.