Mary MacDougall…Maria Assunta Theresa, nee Principe (1930-2019) Our tireless mother is now at rest. Mary died on March 18, 2019. Mary was predeceased in 2012 by her loving husband of 58 years, Ken MacDougall. Mother of Teresa (Rick Nebel), Cynthia (Jeff Evenson) and Christopher (Jessica MacDougall) and second mother to Brian Milne (predeceased). Grandmother of the best grandchildren in the world, Fraser(Amanda), Spencer(Ally), Morgan, Laila, Hailey and Evan. Blessed with three great-grandchildren, Abigail, Marlie and Zoe. Sister of Leonard, Joseph, Michael and Lucy (all predeceased) and survived by Peter, Larry and Lena. Sister in law to Ken’s siblings, Bud, Rene, Marjorie and Marlene and their spouses. Kind Aunt to the Principe nieces and nephews, Matthew and Antonietta, Sondra and Donny, Peter John and Michael, Martin, Marlene and Matthew as well as the MacDougall nieces and nephews, Noreen, Gregory, and Valerie, Lesleah, Karen, Wayne and Donna, Cheryl, Wendy, Michelle and Jeff.

Mary was the sixth child of Matteo and Antonia Principe who travelled separately by boat from Italy to Canada for a better life, Matteo in about 1912, and Antonia and their first son Leonard, 10 or so years later. Mary grew up on Walton Street in downtown Toronto, (the Ward) with her mother and brothers and sisters. Mary always said her two brothers Larry and Peter, were like fathers to her. She also loved to say that the Downtown was a great place to grow up because you could walk to everything, you didn’t have to pay for transit. And did you know, that her best friend was named Pearl who was Jewish, and that it shouldn’t matter if you were Jewish or Catholic? And she had two favourite sisters? Lena and Lucy. And Larry gave her bus fare so she didn’t have to walk to Northern. And my brother Peter. Did you know we grew up with the Volpes?

Mary met the love of her life Ken at a mutual friend’s party (Ken was singing in the corner of the room on the floor and I knew right away that he was the man for me). Married May 1, 1954. Did you know Nonna almost didn’t come to the wedding because Ken wasn’t a Catholic. Mary was gracious, cheerful and determined in all her varied life pursuits. Beautiful and well turned out. Gowns and pearls, earrings and hair done. Lipstick. Countless Bikinis. I would love a beer. Principe family gatherings, Easter and Christmas and endless cousins weddings. Ginger ale and red wine. Thick pizza, cookies and gentleness. Plastic covers on couches. Sometimes sheets. Visits to Lucy, Nunna and Martin in the tiny warm kitchen stuffed with food. Dinners at Grandad and Nan’s house. Lake Scugog picnics. Rented cottages at Lake Muskoka, Holiday Pines Park, convertible rides in the cream Valiant with Ken, “Slow Down Ken,” later the white Toyota convertible (don’t forget the purple car in the 70s). Crystal Lake summers and parties. Mexico with family and friends over the years, especially Danny and Gloria. Penne with sauce, meatballs the way Nunna always made them. Romano never parmesan. Chicken soup, the way Nunna always made it. Mary. Mary, come and sit down. Please come and sit down and eat with us. Always time for tents with sheets and peak a boo. Jessica is beautiful, Chris you are so lucky. Don't forget to turn out the lights. Smile.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to a charity of your choice. Covenant House, Front Lines in Weston are suggestions, or a charity which supports young people in need.

Mom, we know you are dancing with Dad.