Mary Elizabeth (Mackay) Walsh

The curtain has closed on a remarkable life. Mary Elizabeth (Mackay) Walsh passed away peacefully surrounded by her children on Wednesday September 21st. Born in Halifax on September 27, 1932, she was a daughter of the late Norman and Kathleen (Armstrong) Mackay. Mary was devoted to her late husband, Fred and to her family, who were the pride and joy of her life. She is survived by her daughter, Jane (Robin) Bustin, Berwick; sons, Michael (Gail), Rockland; Peter (Jackie Julia), Oakland, Maine; Waldo (Judy), Rockland; Allison "Al" (Wendy), Bedford; Bill (Suzanne), Cambridge; grandchildren, Sean, Erin, Kyle, Clare, Lisa, Candice, Jeffrey, Allan, Emma, Max, Alexander, Gordon, Jack, Liam, Zachary and Sophie; 13 great grandchildren; sisters, Jean Caldwell and Margaret (Don) Wieche; many nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by husband, Fred; sister, Kay MacLachlan and brothers-in-law, Lloyd Caldwell and Don MacLachlan.

The youngest of four girls, she attended elementary school in Halifax. Her father died suddenly in 1938 and after a few years, when mom was nine, her mother relocated the family to Wolfville. She attended Wolfville Schools and then earned a diploma in Home Economics from Acadia University in 1952.

Mom discovered her true calling and attended the Victoria General Hospital School of Nursing where she graduated as a Registered Nurse in August 1954. It was during her training at the Nova Scotia Sanitorium in Kentville that she met our father, Fred at a relative’s farm. This was the beginning of a lifelong love affair.

In November 1954 Mom and Dad were married and moved to the farm in Rockland where so many memories, laughs and of course, six children were created. This was truly mom’s happy place.

In the early 1970’s, Mom returned to work for a few years at the former Mountain View Home in Waterville, a job she thoroughly enjoyed. She recertified her nursing license in the early 1980’s and returned to work at the Western Kings Memorial Hospital for a short time until realizing managing a farm fulltime, while nursing; was not sustainable.

Mom was a great community supporter and volunteer. Many organizations benefited from mom’s time and generosity. These included:

The South Berwick Women’s Institute, of which she was a proud member for almost 60 years and she was a Life Member of the Women’s Institute of Nova Scotia;
the Kings Chorale;
the United Church Women;
the Canadian Cancer Society; and
Provincial Volunteer of the Year Award 2009.

Mom also quietly supported many local organizations and foundations over the years, which were important and close to her heart.

Mom was a great cook. Many expected and unexpected guests were treated to her culinary creations. Some were traditional, and some, not so much! She let no food go to waste and was constantly creating dishes, usually soups, which were wonderful but, impossible to reproduce. She referred to herself as the "Soup Queen". Regardless of the number of guests in her home, there was always plenty of food.

Mom was kindhearted and had a wonderful and sometimes unique sense of humor. She was involved in many community theatre productions and her outrageous roles were legendary, especially when she resorted to improv, much to the delight of the audience but……her costars worst nightmare! Mom confessed that "she was inclined to be opinionated, and possibly be considered outspoken." which those who knew her well would attest. At most social gatherings, people knew that Mary Walsh was in the room.
Mom loved, supported and was so proud of her entire family. She was a true character and her lifelong devotion to family, friends and community was unparalleled.

The family would like to thank the staff at Evergreen Home for Special Care, the Valley Regional Hospital and mom’s dear friends who supported her in the last few years.

Cremation has taken place and there will be no visitation, by request. A celebration of the lives of both Mary and Fred Walsh will be held on Friday, September 30, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. at the Berwick United Church. Family flowers only. Attendees are asked to please wear a mask. A webcast of the service will be available at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 1, 2022. A private family interment will be held in the Berwick Cemetery immediately following the service with a reception to follow. Donations in memory can be made to Evergreen Home for Special Care Kentville, The Berwick Food Bank or a charity of one’s choice. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Kentville. For online condolences, inquiries and to view the webcast, please visit: www.whitefamilyfuneralhome.com.

So, in true Mary Walsh fashion, she would want you to know,
"The Soup Queen is dead!"