(nee Butkovich)

Mary passed away peacefully after a brief illness on April 7, 2020, at Mississauga Hospital, at the age of 88. She was predeceased by her beloved husband of 53 years, Tony, and her loving parents Mike and Kate Butkovich. She was the loving mother of Anthony and daughter-in-law Veronika, and proud grandmother of Peter, Mariana and Daniel. She will also be dearly missed by her sisters Olga Cvecich and Kathy Butkovich, her nephew and nieces, as well as other relatives and friends in Canada, Croatia and elsewhere.

Mary was born during the Great Depression to Croatian immigrant parents in the northern mining town of Noranda, Quebec. She had a happy childhood, as is common among those with modest upbringings. As a young lady, she enjoyed weekend dances and dancing with the many new post-war arrivals, but the love of her life turned out to be one of the rare non-dancers from Croatia. Their marriage was a true partnership, marked by love, loyalty and mutual support that was steadfast through life’s triumphs and challenges. After moving south to Toronto, Mary and Tony became loving and selfless parents. Grandchildren were a great gift and source of joy to them later in life, and Mary looked forward enthusiastically to their private tamburica concerts. Mary made a special point of promoting their continuing education, perhaps because circumstances limited her own opportunities.

Not long after being widowed, Mary began to suffer from Alzheimer’s disease, which frustrated her greatly as time progressed; perhaps as a trained bookkeeper, it was especially troubling that the things around her didn’t add up anymore. She often wondered aloud why she was still here, however she accepted that her eternal life, just as her earthly life, could only begin when God willed it. So, she persevered, making a pact with “the Big Guy” to do her part to keep going, as long as He continued to help her. During her final weeks, fighting infections, she was able to cut through the fog with the spiritual clarity to utter “a new life”, letting us know that she was at peace and ready to rejoin her husband, her parents, and her four little angels who didn’t survive but were never forgotten.

Our sincere thanks to the Mississauga Hospital ‘4B Medicine’ healthcare team, who made Mary’s last month as comfortable as possible.

Thank you to Fr. Bozidar Tensek who offered prayers at the funeral home and celebrated the Rite of Committal at Assumption Cemetery, both attended only by close family on April 9, 2020.

If desired, donations in memory of Mary to the Alzheimer Society or Croatian Martyrs Parish would be appreciated.