Mary Ethel Adair
January 22nd, 2019
ADAIR, Mary Ethel (nee Rainey)
On January 22, 2019, Mary Adair passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loved ones, at the Colonel Belcher Care Centre in Calgary Alberta. Mary was born on June 23,1927 in Toronto, Ontario. She was the oldest of 2 children, one brother. Mary spent most of her youth in Toronto, but her father was in the military and they did spend some time in Quebec. She was a Girl Guide and attended Danforth Technical school where she studied as a dressmaker. She eventually moved to Edmonton with a group of friends and met her future husband (Barney) at a social in Sylvan Lake. They reconnected in Edmonton and married in 1949. The marriage was blessed with 3 children, daughters Robin and Debi, and son Brian. Mary worked in the banking industry off and on until her retirement. Barney re-enlisted in the RCAF and they spent most of their married life moving from base to base eventually landing in Portage La Prairie where they stayed until they both retired. On retirement they enjoyed travelling in Airstream caravans and spent many winters travelling the southern US and Mexico. When their travelling days were over, they moved to Ladysmith, British Columbia. Barney passed away in 2007 and Mary moved to Airdrie, Alberta in 2008 to be close to her daughters. Mary enjoyed crafts, sewing, dancing and especially card games. She also enjoyed spending time with her 6 grandchildren and her 3 great grandchildren. Mary was predeceased by her loving husband William Bernard; parents John and Mary Rainey; and brother Bill Rainey. She is survived by her 3 children, Robin Mundrick (Donald), Debi Carbert (George), Brian Adair (Terry); 6 grandchildren, Christine Landry (Eric), Michael Blenkarn, BJ Carbert (Lauren), Kyle Carbert (Amanda), Akeam Adair and Unique Adair; 3 great grandchildren, Sophia Landry, Connor Landry and Madeleine Carbert.
In lieu of flowers please send donations to the Friends of the Colonel Belcher Society (Calgary Health Trust – FOCBS Fund, 1939 Veterans Way NW, Calgary, Alberta T3B 5Y8. (http://focbs.ca/Donations.html).
The family would like to extend their sincere thanks to all the staff at the Colonel Belcher.
Messages:
So sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
I would just like to send my condolences to the family and my prayers are with you at this time.
It is with great sadness that I learned of my cousin Mary's passing although, I knew she was gradually slipping away. Her father John Rainey was my favourite Uncle but as I was living in Britain all my life; until 1960, I did not get to meet my cousin until I was an adult - I have certainly made up for that in more recent times. Although whilst they were living in France and called on my parents I did not get to meet Mary & Barney and their two daughters until one year when we were driving back from a holiday in Italy and were able to stop at the Base near Strasburg. I found we immediately got on like a "house on fire". From then on I kept in constant contact with Mary and when we moved to Up-state New York in 1961 we spent many happy times with them in Ottawa and their three children (by then Brian had arrived on the scene). Over the years we met many, many times and when I too had 2 daughters and a son of my own we found we had even more in common. I recall a wonderful trip I took with Mary & Barney when they had their first Airstream trailer. I was travelling with my son (then age about 11 years so about 1982) and we met in Calgary and drove all through the Rockies to Vancouver to meet up with my Uncle John. We had lots of excitement on the way, especially as the car struggled with the weight of the Airstream but we made it in the end. After that, as they now had their "home on wheels" we had many happy meetings including the two occasions when they came to California for my daughters' weddings in 1989 and 1993. Then when they moved to Ladysmith I spent many happy holidays on the Island with them. Mary and I found we had much in common, a love of cooking (and especially fresh seafood), sewing and other handicrafts, and of course traveling. They were visiting us later at the time of Mary's 80th birthday because it was whilst they were with us that Barney had one of his falls, and it was shortly after that they went on the cruise and he passed away. I was able to go and stay with Mary when she was deciding she should sell their home and move to Airdrie (I had done something similar when my husband passed away) so we were able to share these experiences too. I was so glad I then visited her soon after she moved and we took a trip up to Jasper but by then I could tell Mary was failing slightly as I had to do all the driving of her car. Nevertheless it was a wonderful trip and she could re-live previous visits she had made to the region, I was so thankful we had that special time together. My thoughts and prayers are with Robin, Debbie and Brian at this time, I am so sorry its not possible to join you.