Mary (Leslie) Burge

Peacefully at Kings County Memorial Hospital on Friday, November 19th of Mary (Leslie) Burge of St. Peter’s Bay, born on March 18, 1947.

Survived by her husband of 53 years Michael (Mickey) Burge, daughters Michelle (Davey Anderson) of Morell, Maria (Mark Steele) of Sherwood and Megan ( Aaron MacGregor) of St. Peter’s Bay, and was a loving grandmother to Logan, Ella and Kalum Steele.

Mary also leaves to mourn her brother Gerard (Joanne) Leslie of London, Ontario and niece Kelly Stevens of Toronto, Ontario, sisters in- law Irene Burge, Claire Mullally, Bernadette (Bunny) Rossiter, Phyllis Burge, Marie Burge and Noreen Wood, special cousins Alma Beck, Sally MacDonald, Janet Clinton, Verna MacAulay, Betty Fraser (Alfred deceased), Irene MacDonald, Carol Murphy, Cathy Carpenter, Gerard Peters (deceased), Eric MacEwen (deceased), Catherine Gallant (deceased), Ethel MacEwen, Mike Brown, Mary Lou Turner, Judy Cain, Cathy Blanchard, David Brown and Leo Peters and many nieces and nephews.

Mary was predeceased by her parents Joseph and Marie (Peters) Leslie, brothers in law Alban Burge, Dr. Francis Burge, Alfred (Paddy) Rossiter and John Mullally.

Mary was an avid supporter of her beloved home community of St. Peter’s Bay being the CAO for over 32 years, and actively involved in St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church, St. Peter’s Blueberry Festival, and St. Peter’s Bay Complex.

Mary was a builder. She was a builder of events, both community and family. She never claimed to be a builder, but in truth she was an architect. The foundations of the things she built created an amazing family and village. There was no event too small or too big to matter. She volunteered family and friends to assist. Everything from minor hockey, ringette, Family reunions, political events, school events, church events, and anything that needed a helping hand. A good cookie or biscuit could coerce much needed extra hands in every build. She never turned away from hard work nor a tough conversation. She worked and architected up until her mind and body allowed her, as was her style.

Mary would host family meetings and ensure everyone had tasks. She didn’t need your attendance at the meeting. If things needed to be done, she had a list and would ensure everyone had items to work on. No one said no to her requests. Her children benefitted from her ability to run Brownie and Girl Guide groups, find jerseys for their sports teams, run the canteen at the rink, manage sports teams, run unending errands and her quick adaption to technology. She typed many assignments on her old typewriter and then moved to a computer before most had seen one. Her dot matrix printer would have printed miles of paper in its time. She had a large network before social media become prevalent. This network allowed her to know what all her girls were doing, before cell phones and before internet were invented. She was an architect ahead of her time.

Public visitation on Monday, November 22, 2021 from 2 – 5 pm at Dr. Roddie MacDonald Community Centre, St. Peter’s Bay. Vax pass and photo ID will be required. Funeral mass at St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church, St. Peter’s Bay, November 23, 2021 at 11:00 am by invitation only. Interment will be held at St. Peter’s Bay Roman Catholic Cemetery.

Memorial donations in Mary’s memory may be made to Community of St. Peter’s Bay directly, or by e transfer to northshorefuneralhome@gmail.com. Online condolences may be made at www.northshorefuneralhome.ca. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to North Shore Funeral Home, Morell.

The funeral mass for the late Mary Florence Burge was held on Tuesday, November 23, 2021 at St. Peter’s Bay Roman Catholic Church, St. Peter’s Bay, with Father Brian MacDougall officiating. The altar server was Jimmy MacAulay. The first reading was read by Marie Burge, while Irene Burge proclaimed the second reading. Juanita Rossiter offered the prayers of intercession. Father MacDougall read the gospel and delivered the homily. Honorary pallbearers were everyone in attendance. Pallbearers consisted of Ronnie McInnis, Kevin MacAdam, Aaron MacGregor, Mark Steele, Craig Campbell and Doug MacEwen. Flower bearers were Janice MacLean and Brenda Curran. Music was provided by Jacinta MacDonald singing: Processional, Here I am Lord; Psalm, Psalm 23; Preparation of Gifts, Hail Mary, Gentle Woman; Communion, The Bread of Life; Incensing, Songs of the Angels; and the Recessional, How Great Thou Art. Interment took place in the parish Cemetery. The funeral was under the direction of North Shore Funeral Home, Morell.