Mary Elisabeth Ball (nee Chalmers)
Posted By Egan Funeral Home On October 15, 2024 @ 5:49 pm In Bolton Area,Obituaries | 18 Comments
(January 3, 1933 – October 10, 2024)
Passed away peacefully at her home in Toronto. Predeceased by her parents, Dorothy (Addison) Groves and William Chalmers, by her stepmother Beryl Palmer, by her younger brother, Bill Chalmers, and by her brothers-in-law Ed Jones and Charles Ball. Treasured wife and loving partner of the late Ken Ball. Beloved mother of Jim (Anne), Christine (Jim) and Douglas (Michelle). Loving grandmother of Barbara Anne Toivanen (Pekka), Valerie Lynn Williams, Michael Cameron Ball (Laurie), and Sarah Elizabeth Ball (Dan). Great grandmother to Evander and Elias. Valued sister-in-law of Joyce Jones and Ruby Chalmers. Aunt of Cathy Jones, Bev and Gary Ball, and Marianne and Jayne Chalmers. Beloved cousin of John, Carolyn, Marion and many others.
Mary was a wise, kind, and generous person who navigated life with intelligence, stoic resolve and an independent spirit. She was well read, hard working, good humoured and unrepentantly stubborn. She was convinced that chocolate was an essential food group.
She was a graduate of the Hamilton General Hospital nursing class of 1954. The program provided both a rewarding vocation and a host of lifetime friends. She served as an ER and ICU nurse early in her career and later used her training and experience to teach clinical skills to students in the ambulance services program at Humber College. She was an active member of the Presbyterian Church of Canada and of the Order of the Eastern Star. She was an avid chorister and lover of music, and a regular attender of TSO concerts. She enjoyed her long views of Lake Ontario from the back porch of her Toronto home and did so to the end.
A private family gathering will be held at the graveside.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to a charity of your choice.
Condolences for the family may be offered at www.EganFuneralHome.com
Condolences for the family of “Mary Elisabeth Ball (nee Chalmers)”
Jim and Anne and family
My condolences to you all in the passing of your mom.May her memory bring you comfort in the days and weeks ahead.
So sorry to hear about Mary’s passing. I have great memories of she and Ken at Joyce and Ed Jones’ home during my childhood. My parents, Virginia and Ken Dechert spent many happy years socializing with Mary and Ken. As an adult I continued to hear all about the comings and goings of the Ball Family from my good friend, Cathy Jones. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you. You were very fortunate to have had so many wonderful years of memories with Mary.
Upon reading your Gran’s obituary, she was indeed an exceptional woman. My thoughts and prayers are with your family. Enjoy all your beautiful memories.
Deepest condolences and sympathy to you and your family Doug and Michelle. My prayers are with you
Sending heartfelt condolences to the whole family. I didn’t know Mary but she sounds like she was a firecracker & lived life to the fullest!! Jim officiated at my best friend’s wedding in Caledon East & Anne is the daughter of the best boss I ever had, Dr. Perkin, so I wanted to express my sympathies.
Miss Mary was such a beautiful soul who brought light and love into the lives of everyone who knew her. I feel so blessed to have shared so many years of friendship with her. Her kindness, wisdom, and grace will forever remain in my heart.
Sending all my love and strength to your family during this difficult time. She will be deeply missed, but her spirit will always be with us.
With love,
Pena
I am so very sorry for your loss. Hold tight to your beautiful memories.
Cindy Glassford and Family
Doug, so sorry to hear the passing of your mother
My sincere condolences to you and your family.
May your Mom rest in eternal peace.
God Bless.
Mary’s cousin was my dear mother Dorothy Kelly. Mary was her maid of honor and lifelong friend. They sang, side by side in the McNab Presbyterian church choir in Hamilton when they were teenagers. Mary & I both graduated from Hamilton General Hospital School of Nursing. That was a wonderful connection for us. Mary & my Mom had very similar personalities.They were smart, strong ,funny, stubborn!! opinionated, loving with an amazing commitment to family. I will miss you Mary. I send love & prayers to your family
I’m so sorry of the passing of your grandmother Val and Barbara Anne.Mary was a wonderful lady and I will miss my little visits with her.God bless you both and your family
Valerie: Please accept my sincere condolences on your Grandma’s passing. She was a wonderful neighbour for forty-one years, a very kind and thoughtful lady. She even asked someone (you?) to deliver a thank-you card to me!
May fond memories of Grandma Mary bring you comfort during this difficult time in your life.
Wow! Thank you for sharing a glimpse of the life of Mary. In having the privilege of knowing her granddaughter, I know she has deeply contributed in growing a kind, thoughtful and considerate generation of people and likely through her profession positively impacted many lives.
Sending warm heart felt energy with the wishes to help all of you during this time of loss.
Caroline
Our sincere condolences to the family. We were neighbours across the street for 22 years. She was a kind neighbour and we will be poorer here with her passing.
Michael & Ann Gates
Our deepest condolences.
Mary was not just our neighbour for the past 30 years, but indeed truly a friend.
The whole Ball family have been friends to us.
Mary was almost a surrogate grandmother to our children who she knew from their birth.
She never missed a birthday or graduation without marking it with some sort of gift Card, which they truly did appreciate.
We will deeply miss her presence.
Our thoughts and love to the family
So sorry for your loss Val and Barbra Anne. Your grandmother was such a kind, thoughtful and funny soul. I can’t imagine the loss you and the family our experiencing. I hope your treasured memories are of some comfort during this difficult time.
Doug,
I’m wishing your family can find peace in cherished memories. Your Mother seemed to be a remarkable and strong woman.
My deepest sympathy, Lynda
Jim, Anne and family,
On behalf of the St. John’s UC family, I offer sincere condolences upon the death of your dear Mother/Grandmother. What a blessing to have had Mary’s presence in your lives for so many years; modeling generosity, care, compassion, and love! What a gift to have enjoyed her humour… and her love of music and chocolate! God’s grace abounds!
Praying sweet memories are a source of comfort as you grieve; songs of praise arise when you remember Mary’s life and living; the promises of our faith encourage and sustain you at this tender time.
This day, we give God thanks for Mary; her living… her loving… her legacy… as we hold you, and all who are mourning her passing, in our thoughts and prayers and love. Isaiah 41: 10
In Christ,
Rev. Sue Cowan
St John’s UC, Georgetown and Glen Williams
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Our sincere condolences, Audrey & Paul