Mary was born to Percy and Pearl (Diment) Kerr on Oct 2, 1918 during the second wave of the 1918 “Spanish” Flu epidemic. The attending nurse was sick with the flu by evening and died before morning and the doctor was a patient before breakfast. Newborn Mary was sent home with the prediction that she would not survive the month. Instead she lived a very healthy life and just celebrated her 103rd birthday at home, determined, strong willed and feisty to the end.

For 59 years she was the much loved wife of Wilbur Countryman (2001).
She was also a mother of three, Beth Stratton (2009), Marylo (Ralph) Sorensen, and George (2019), and a grandmother of six adored grandchildren Sean Stratton, Tara Gillard, Erin McConnell, Laura Countryman, Anders and Erik Sorensen.
She was thrilled to be a great grandmother of six, Cici, Rhylee, Kyleigh, Brianna, Mila and Magnus.

The family lived in different parts of Ontario where Wilbur’s career in education took them, always returning to the Belleville area where they both grew up and attended high school together. For 45 years the cottage north of Belleville was a constant place for the growing family of children and grandchildren to gather.

For Mary her family mattered more than anything.

Her family is grateful to the staff at Beechwood Place Retirement where she enjoyed life for 8 years and also to Care Partners for supporting her last few days at home.

A private, family service will be held at Turner & Porter Peel Chapel on Monday Nov 8, 2021 at one o’clock with interment in Belleville cemetery.

To view the service via Livestream please use tab below (available within 24 hours of service).