Obituary of Mary Langstone
Passed away peacefully in Toronto on Saturday, July 21, 2012 at the age of 97 years. Predeceased by her loving husband Thomas Langstone (1983). Beloved mother of David (Shari Cunningham) of Windsor and John of Ottawa. Dear grandmother of Jean-Alexis, Edward and Rebecca. Predeceased by her brother Alex Murphy (1973), his wife Ida (later Ida Siddall, 1996) and by her parents Esther Murphy (1964) and Milford Murphy (1917).
Born in a farmhouse west of Alliston, Ontario on March 16th, 1915 Mary Margaret Murphy arrived just one day short of St. Patrick's Day. Her early life was spent in Parkdale where she graduated from Parkdale Collegiate two years early despite long hours of chores in her widowed mother's boarding house. Higher education was not an option so after a brief business college course she worked in her uncle's insurance office until marriage and children put her career on hold. Returning to the insurance business in her forties she seized the opportunity to acquire the higher education unavailable to her in her youth, ultimately acquiring her FIIC (Fellow of the Insurance Institute of Canada) at Seneca College at the age of sixty-three. This paid off more than one would expect when she retired from the Tomensen-Saunders insurance agency two years later. Canadian International Reinsurance Brokers, a company dealing with large, complicated insurance risks, decided to cash in on her up-to-date knowledge and depression-era work ethic and gave her a responsible position working three days a week, postponing her final retirement until she was seventy-eight. She then had more time for pursuits like travel and taking Living and Learning in Retirement courses at York University. However, her big passion in later life was duplicate bridge, where she was still reeling in master points at age ninety-six. She missed out on becoming a Life Master only because she lacked points given at major tournaments. Even as her energy and agility declined she put as much into life as she could, but to our sorrow the ravages of old age won out last Saturday.
The quality of Mary's last years was enhanced enormously by those who enabled her to stay till the end of her life in the home she lived in for sixty-seven years. For this the family would like to thank Frances Banks, Tasha Salas, Yani Molina and Gina Frades. Mary's appreciation for their care was evident to all of us. In addition we are grateful for the services of Dr. Nowaczynski and his House Calls team that brought expert medical attention to her home when she was no longer able to go out to receive it. Finally our thanks go out to the friends and neighbours whose visits brought her joy and stimulation in later life.
The family will receive friends at the HUMPHREY FUNERAL HOME A. W. MILES CHAPEL LIMITED, 1403 Bayview Avenue (south of Davisville Avenue) from 5 - 8 p.m. on Tuesday, July 24, 2012 and from 10 - 11 a.m. on Wednesday, July 25. A service will be held in the chapel on Wednesday, July 25 at 11 o'clock followed by refreshments in the Rosedale Lounge. Interment at Highland Memory Gardens with departure scheduled for 1:00 p.m. If desired, donations to the Salvation Army, Territorial Headquarters for Canada and Bermuda, 2 Overlea Boulevard, Toronto, ON, M4H 1P4, would be appreciated. Condolences and memories may be forwarded through www.humphreymiles.com.
