Obituary of Mary Isabelle Balfour

MARY BALFOUR Mary Isabelle Balfour died at Westmount Gardens Long Term Care in London on October 6, 2015 in her 91st year. The daughter of Richard and Ethel Balfour of London, Mary was born on January 15, 1925. Her sister, Barbara Horne, and her brothers, James Grant Balfour and Richard Colgan Balfour, died before her. Mary is survived by her nieces and nephews Barbara, Ian, Mary Elizabeth and Richard Balfour. Mary graduated in 1945 with a B.A. from the University of Western Ontario, where she studied Secretarial Sciences. Mary spent virtually all her career at Labatt Brewing Company, ultimately serving as the secretary to John H. Moore, President and later Chairman. Mr. Moore and his family were close to Mary and very kind to her for many years, including after her retirement. Mary never married. Following the untimely death of William Horne, Barbara's husband, Mary and Barbara lived happily together for many years, first in the University Towers apartments, then in a Fiddlers Green townhouse and finally in both Longworth Retirement Residence and Westmount Gardens. Together, Mary and Barbara travelled extensively - including most memorably in Great Britain, China and Greece - and continued to enjoy summers at the Balfour family cottage at Maple Grove near Grand Bend, where they stayed from their first years. In her years at Westmount Gardens, the staff were exceptionally caring and kindly attentive every day. Her friends Linda Darowski, Corinne Geddes, Charlotte Knowles, Leisa McDonald and Tina Morley were especially devoted to Mary and indispensable to her well-being. Visitation will be at the John T. Donohue Funeral Home, 362 Waterloo Street at King Street, on Tuesday, October 13 from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. Funeral Mass will be held at St. George Church, 1164 Commissioners Road West, on Wednesday, October 14 at 11:00 a.m., followed by a reception at the church. The burial will be private. In memory of Mary, donations may be made to the Stratford Festival or another charity of the donor's choice.