Mary of Toronto, Ontario, passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday July 16, 2024 at age 83, after a long battle with COPD. Mary was born on April 23, 1941, in Vulcan, Alberta. She was one of six children of Felix Strauss and Loretta (nee Kieswetter). Mary grew up on a farm learning many of the skills that would serve her well in a busy life. Mary aspired to be a nurse and during her first year of training she contracted an illness which ended her nursing career but not her determination to have a fulfilling career. She moved to Toronto, met her future husband and started a long and prosperous career working for Bell Canada.

Over their 60 years of marriage, Mary and John enjoyed many years of creating wonderful memories with friends and family. They were famous for their “Bell” dinner parties in which work friends gathered yearly for grand dinner parties spanning over 35 years. Mary retired at 55 and between traveling and spending winters in Florida, she embarked on a university education. She majored in Women Studies and graduated with honours from York University. Education was an extremely important endeavor to both her and her husband, John Plunkett (deceased January 2024), and together they provided bursaries for many nieces, nephews and grand nieces and nephews.

Mary was an active member of St. Gregory’s parish and a longtime volunteer (30+ years) with Dorothy Ley Hospice; fundraising, manicuring their gardens and overseeing and training other garden volunteers. Mary had a love for gardening, cats and riding horses. As in life, Mary was devoted to adventure, challenging herself and sharing her generosity and love with others. Her kindness, openness to others and ability to be a good listener won the respect of all who knew her. Mary was a devoted and loving daughter, a dedicated and loving wife, a cherished sister, a wise aunt, and a giving friend. She is preceded in death by her husband, John, brothers; Jim, Jerry and Ralph, and her parents. She is survived by her loving sister, Eilleen, younger brother Richard, and many nieces, nephews and grand nieces and nephews.

A sincere thank you to all of the family and friends who showed Mary how much she was loved, to the staff at Right At Home Etobicoke North, and the palliative care professionals at Dorothy Ley Hospice who supported Mary towards the end.

A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Gregory’s Church, 122 Rathburn Road, Toronto, at 10am on Saturday, July 27, 2024. Donations in memory of Mary can be made to Dorothy Ley Hospice, Canadian Cancer Foundation, or the COPD Foundation.