Maria Michela Howe

Maria Michela Howe (nee Moro) passed away on Sunday, November 26, 2011,  after suffering a sudden stroke on Friday.  Her loving family were able to spend her last days with with her and given an opportunity to say their good-byes.

Mary was born in Vancouver.  She was Davide & Irma Moro’s 3rd child and loved dearly by her brother Paolo and ‘big’ sister Yvonne Chelczynski (Eric).

When Mary was 7 years old the family moved to Italy and she enjoyed a year of living close to a large Italian family that included her grandparents (Nonni), aunts (Zia’s), uncles (Zio’s), and many cousins (Cugini).

Upon her return to Vancouver, the family decided to move to Burnaby and this is where she was fortunate enough to meet her beloved husband John Howe, as they both attended Brentwood Park Elementary school.

Mary and John were meant to be together for the rest of their lives, and married in Burnaby on May 27th, 1989.  Her family grew to include her much loved father-in-law Robert (Bob), mother-in-law Breda, sister-in-laws Andrea Thomson and Sandy Schnorr (Tony). 

Mary and John started their family in May of 1990 with the birth of their son Robert (Bobby) and in August of 1995 were overjoyed to be blessed again by the birth of their daughter Laura.  

Over the years the family has grown to include nieces and nephews beginning with Amber & Kevin (Chelczynski), Kyle, Kalin, & Sarah (Thomson) and Wylie & Wyatt (Schnorr).

Mary felt blessed to have a family that she loved so much and would do anything that she could to make sure that they were always in the forefront. She created a beautiful garden that her family could enjoy and to no one’s  surprise added a statue of Saint Francis of Assisi, also known as the patron saint of animals!  

Mary had a natural love of animals, whenever she was able she would borrow family members’ dogs to walk and take care of.  As soon as she could, without hesitation, she added her own dogs to her home - they gave her much pleasure and felt her home was a better place to be because of them.

Mary worked at the RCMP head office in Vancouver for over 24 years in public service as a civilian. She respected the people that she worked with and admired their strengths and abilities to serve our Province.

Their outpouring of support and caring to her family validates everything that we always knew about her and the wonderful people that she worked with.

Mary loved decorating her home for any and every holiday and it is to no one’s  surprise that she had already begun decorating her home for Christmas. She loved Christmas and enjoyed the season for all of the freedom of giving that it gave her! 

Mary was able in her short life to teach us to see the best in the people around us, to forgive and most of all to look at life in the brightest of lights! 

Mary was the most giving person anyone could ever imagine.  She is in God’s hands now but before he took her from us, she was able to give a final gift, the gift of life!  Mary became an organ donor on Sunday, the day of her passing, and continues to give other families the opportunity to love their parent, child, uncle, aunt, niece, nephew, brother, sister or friend for a while longer!

Mary will be sadly missed by all who knew and befriended her.

The family would like to thank the staff at Vancouver General Hospital for the respect and kindness shown to Mary and her family during a very difficult time.

A memorial service will be held Thursday, December 1, 2011 at the Royal Oak Community Church, 7175 Royal Oak Avenue, Burnaby at 2:00 pm. 

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Canadian National Institute for the Blind would be greatly appreciated.

You are invited to leave a personal message of condolence.