Passed away peacefully in her sleep July 26, 2017. Beloved and devoted wife to Douglas who passed away in 2013. She will be deeply missed by her loving family, Michael and Monica, Susan, and David and Amy. She was the best Nana to her grandchildren, Matthew and Stephanie, Emily and Andrew and Sydney. They were the light of her life. She leaves her loving sister Ann Poldaas (Al) of Calgary, her brother, Ken Babcock (Sharon) of St. Thomas and several nieces and nephews who have happy memories of fun times at the cottage, Riverside Drive and many family vacations in Florida.

Lou grew up in St. Thomas, Ontario, the cherished daughter of Morris & Ivy Babcock, where she and Doug were high school sweethearts. She graduated from The University of Western Ontario and London Teacher's College in 1957 and taught for the Toronto School Board for several years and then came back to occasional teaching after her children were grown.

Lou was a people person and loved hosting events for Doug’s staff at IBM, as well as entertaining her many friends. She was an avid gardener at both the family cottage on Shadow Lake and at home on Riverside Drive. An active member of her church unit at Kingsway Lambton United Church, she enjoyed being involved in the annual Art Show and Flea Market every spring.

She will be missed by her many friends in the Etobicoke Chapter of the University Woman's Club where she was a member and volunteered and participated in many interest groups to which she belonged.

Lou and Doug loved to travel. They traveled extensively for Doug's work in the Caribbean and once Doug retired they travelled through Europe and North America with both family and friends.

For the past four years Lou fought a courageous battle against leukemia, but you would never have known as she was blessed with tremendous energy, abundant faith and had a very positive attitude towards life. She kept up her incredible sense of style right up to the very end.

Mom is now with her lifelong love of more than 70 years.

The family wishes to thank Dr. Arnold Smith, Dr. Hassan Sibai as well as the nurses and staff at both the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and Toronto General Hospital for the exceptional care that she received.

Cremation has already taken place. Visitation will be held on Tuesday August 22 at the Turner and Porter Yorke Chapel from 2–4pm and 7-9pm. A Celebration of Mary Lou's life will take place at Kingsway Lambton United Church on Wednesday August 23 at 11am. Reception will follow at Lambton Golf Club at 1pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations would be appreciated to Princess Margaret Cancer Centre or Autism Ontario.