Obituary of Mary Ruth MacDonald

Mary Ruth MacDonald, daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, sister-in-law, friend and teacher, passed away on April 15, 2012 at home, surrounded by her family, her books and her cat, Kit. Born in Windsor on September 17, 1947, she was the only child of Marjorie and Fred Baron.Mary’s childhood was spent in Scotch Village at the family’s small farm with an interesting group of playmates including a pig and a rooster. Mary graduated from Nova Scotia Teachers College in 1967 and taught for over thirty years at Brooklyn District Elementary School where she touched the lives of countless children and their families. Mary enjoyed family vacations at her uncle’s cottage on Prince Edward Island, taking long drives with her husband Douglas, baking, reading and shopping with her granddaughters, and watching her family compete at horse shows. In her retirement she continued her love of books and reading, spending her days with a good book, preparing for book club, gardening and tending the cats and dogs. On the weekends she enjoyed watching her daughters and granddaughters ride their horses and ponies, going back to the woods at the farm with her family, and hosting family dinners. Mary was a member of the United Church Women’s group and Newport United Church where she served on various committees.Mary is survived by her mother, Marjorie Baron, Dykeland Lodge (formerly of Newport); her husband of 44 years, Douglas; her daughters, Suzanne (Brian) Partridge, Carrie and Amy MacDonald; her beloved granddaughters, Elizabeth and Brianna Partridge, all of Newport; her aunt Frances Leary; her cousins Michael Ozon, Donald, Chris and Jeff Leary, PEI;  sister-in-law Joyce Perrie (Bill), Merritt, BC and Janet Clare (Phillip Barker), Truro, NS; her brother-in-law William MacDonald (Carol), North Battleford, SK; and many nieces, and nephews. Mary is predeceased by her father, Fred Baron; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Douglas and Muriel Caldwell; her uncles, Clarence and Ernest Leary, and her sisters-in-law Sharon and Kathyrn.The family would like to thank Carolyn Armstrong, VON, Susan Lowthers, Parish Nurse and family friend; Dr. Cathryn Smith and Dr. Mark Kazimirski.Arrangements have been entrusted to DeMont Family Funeral Homes & Cremation Service, 419 Albert St., PO Box 981, Windsor, NS B0N 2T0 (902-798-8317), where the family will receive visitors on Friday, April 20 from 7-9 p.m. The funeral service will be held 2 p.m. Saturday, April 21 in Newport United Church, Brooklyn, Rev. Pix Butt officiating. A reception will follow. Private family interment will be held in Maplewood Cemetery, Windsor. Family flowers only, by request. Donations in memory of Mary may be made to Newport United Church, PO Box 9, Newport, NS B0N 2A0. Messages of condolence may be sent to the family by visiting: www.familycare.ca