On Wednesday, January 5, 2022, Mary Jay Laughlin, passed away peacefully in Newmarket, Ontario at the age of 83. On May 13th 1938, she was born to T. Ben Laughlin and Claire (Suki) Laughlin in Trinidad and Tobago. She is survived by her four loving children and their families: Nicola Stefaniuk; Paul Stefaniuk, his wife Jayleen, and their two children Nieya and Alyssa; Sarah Stefaniuk and her wife Danielle Pelczarski; and Sonja Stefaniuk. She will be missed by her brother Thomas (Tommy) Laughlin, his wife Doreen, and their children, her brother David Laughlin, his wife Jenny, and their children as well as her sister-in-law, Sonja Tessier and her children.

Growing up in Trinidad, she attended school at St. Joseph’s Convent, travelled to England to finish her studies, and returned to Trinidad briefly and worked at a bank. But England had lighted her desire to seek new experiences. She spent the late 1950s and early 1960s in London, England living amongst an artistic crowd and, in her free time, enjoyed singing and acting and exploring Europe. It was there in 1962, that she met the love of her life, Walter Stefaniuk (d. 2011), and married him on July 26, 1962. In November of that same year, they took the last passage of the year to cross the Atlantic Ocean to Canada, where they settled and started their family.

Above all else, Jay (as she was always known), was a devoted mother to her children. She had a diverse career too, most often working in real estate. Her passions were abundant and eclectic: performing in local theatre companies during her early days in Canada, music, reading, movies, politics, cooking, crafts, interior decorating, and entertaining. She was famous for creating warm and welcoming spaces for both friends and strangers alike. She will always be remembered for her big heart, mischievous sense of humor, and vivacious spirit.