Mary Burnett

Memorial Service

Saturday, November 22nd, 2014

2:00 p.m.

Kelvington United Church

Mary Burnett was born in Lintlaw, Sask., to Dora and John Grona. She was the third eldest in a family of eleven. She took her schooling at Rama and Nut Mountain. Mary worked as a housekeeper when she met the love of her life, John Burnett. They were married on December 5, 1945, and they had two sons, Jerry and Barry. Mary worked very hard on the family farm, haying, harvesting and milking cows. She also loved to cook and can, enjoyed working in the garden and planting flowers. She even taught herself to knit crochet and embroider, giving away the many items she made with love to many special people in her life. Because Mary was battling many health problems, they chose to move to Kelvington in 1964. She was a breast cancer survivor of more than 20 years and actively took part when the Prairie Women on Snowmobiles arrived in town and in other breast cancer fundraisers. After John passed away in 1979, she kept herself busy with farmer's markets, the Kelvington fair and provincial horticulture competitions winning many trophies and prizes. She joined the United Church and became an active member, enjoying many Bible studies as well as served on the church board for five years. She read the Daily Bread and enjoyed taking part in the church to worship. Mary liked to dance and enjoyed birthday parties with family and friends. She also took part in the seniors' club where she was a reporter for 15 years for both of the local papers. A dream came true when she went to Hawaii with her sister Ann and her husband. She celebrated her birthday there and was excited when she went for a helicopter ride. She also loved to fish, taking many trips to various lakes with many family and friends. When it came to family, Mary loved to spend Christmas in British Columbia with Barry, her grandchildren and great-grandchildren; she enjoyed Grona reunions and loved to see and visit with everyone who was there. Mary was predeceased by her husband John; infant sons, Danny and Edward, as well as son Jerry when he was only nine years old; her parents, Dora and John Grona; sisters Judy Clease and Doris Grona; brothers, Ernie and Nick; and brothers-in-law, Jack Clease and Norman Sparrow. Mary leaves to mourn her son Barry; grandsons Mayan (Nicole) and Raven (Robyn) Burnett; step-grandchildren, Josh Schmidt, Alaya Thornton and Spruce Thornton; great-grandchildren, Jovan, Chance and Doijan, Kaya Lacey, Ameka Burnett and Dominyc; sisters, Ann (John) Lee and Ethel Scarrow; brothers, Metro (May), Bill (Jay) and Victor (Judy); sisters-in-law, Trudy (Grona) Vipond, Ruth Grona and Alice Grona; as well as many nieces and nephews. Mary will be missed by all who knew her.