Mary died peacefully on the morning of July 30, surrounded by her family and loved ones after a brief illness. She is survived by her devoted husband, Harold; her beloved son, Theo (Kimia); her brothers, Jock (Paula) and Martin (Sylvia); her many nieces, nephews, cousins; and an extended family of dear friends spanning the globe. Together we mourn the passing of this luminous soul.
Born in Windsor Ontario, Mary’s love of art, music, and people shaped an adventurous and deeply connected life. After completing a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology at Carleton University, she travelled west and north, living among First Nations communities where she forged friendships that would last a lifetime.
Mary lived with extraordinary generosity and was the ultimate community builder. There was always room for one more at her table or a couch for someone needing a place to sleep. She had a rare gift for making everyone feel they belonged. She brought out the best in those around her. Her joy was contagious, her laughter infectious, and her first instinct was always to think of others before herself.
She met Harold in Toronto in the mid-seventies, and together their shared love of jazz inspired them to nurture the local music community by producing concerts and creating spaces where musicians and audiences alike could gather.
Following the passing of her parents, Eileen Kerr Lynch and Donald Graham Munro, Mary and Harold spent a year travelling throughout Europe and Africa. Upon returning to Canada, they settled into the geodesic dome overlooking Meech Lake, married, and welcomed their beloved son, Theo. Their remarkable home became a haven for family, friends, artists, musicians, and travellers—a place where hospitality was offered freely and everyone left feeling richer for having been there. Together they founded Bandiagara, sewing hats and clothing that they sold from their shop in Ottawa’s ByWard Market.
Mary lived with an unrelentingly aggressive form of Multiple Sclerosis for more than forty years. As the disease gradually limited her physical abilities, it never diminished the radiance of her spirit. She met suffering with extraordinary grace, never complaining and always finding reasons for gratitude. She discovered gifts in every change and every challenge life placed before her, teaching all who knew her that joy is not the absence of hardship but the courage to embrace life fully despite it.
Mary showed us how to live with courage, kindness, and joy. Her life was a blessing to all who knew her, and her example will continue to guide and inspire us. She leaves the world immeasurably kinder than she found it and will be profoundly and lovingly missed.
Donations to a food bank or the M.S. Society would be a meaningful way to honour Mary’s memory.
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