MAEVE PATRICIA GRAY

With heavy hearts we announce that Maeve passed away on September 11, 2022, at the age of 88, after a very brief illness. She is survived by her children Norma (France Legault) of Winnipeg, and Terry (Susan Masser) of Seattle WA, USA, extended family, and many friends. In accordance with her wishes, cremation has already taken place and her ashes will be returned to her native Ireland. No formal service will be held.

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The only child of Terence Joseph (Terry) and Teresa Lee, Maeve was born in Belfast, Ireland and grew up there and in nearby Magherafelt, Co Derry. Like so many young Irish women of the time, she emigrated to Canada in 1956, where she met her husband, Dave Gray, in Toronto. In 1959 Maeve, Dave, with their infant daughter Norma, moved back to Belfast; the following year the family moved to Stevenage, England, where Terry was born.

In 1968 the family moved back to Canada, settling in Winnipeg, where Maeve began working in the University of Manitoba Athletics Office. Shortly after arriving in Winnipeg, Maeve went back to school to become a teacher. Initially obtaining a teaching certificate from Red River Community College, she earned her Bachelor of Education from the UofM while teaching full-time at Lorette Collegiate, then St. Norbert Collegiate, and later completed her Master of Education at UofM. Maeve took an early retirement from teaching 1986 and moved back to Belfast, in part to care for her ailing mother. In 2010 Maeve returned to Winnipeg, to a house she bought in the Wolseley neighbourhood.

An avid cyclist, Maeve rode competitively in Ireland in her youth, and continued to ride for leisure until declining physical health in recent years kept her from riding. She was also an avid walker, and really enjoyed hill walking. Among the hiking accomplishments she was most proud of was reaching the summit of the highest hills in Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales, as well as significant hikes in many other countries. Despite never liking the Prairie winters, Maeve did have an affinity for cross-country skiing – as long as it wasn’t too cold outside.

Throughout her life Maeve enjoyed travelling. Whether alone, or in the company of friends – old or new – she visited most of Canada, much of the United States, and dozens of countries throughout the world. Her travels encompassed a wide array of organized tours, cruises, and self-directed adventures. On all of those journeys there was always a camera close at hand and several of Maeve’s photos earned her accolades in amateur photography contests; one image taken in Hong Kong won a travel photography contest and placement in a travel calendar.

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Maeve's family kindly requests that all of her friends and relatives take a few minutes to honour her memory by watching the photo-biography above. Please, also consider sharing your own photos, memories, and stories by making use of the comment section on this page

Maeve never lost her connection to Ireland, as shown in this poem she wrote, that we found among her papers:

I love you my Ireland.

“Homesick” is only a word

which cannot cover it –

how sad and sick I feel.

To say I want to go home to stay –

forever and a day –

is but a feeble expression

of the heartache I feel

always with me.

I love your mountains, your seas –

rocks, beaches – sunshine, rain,

and your people – and I, too

am of Ireland.

My heart, soul and Spirit

are all there –

while my poor body is here –

in my flat Prairie prison.

Please God,

set me free –

send me home

to my Ireland.

I love you my Ireland.

“Homesick” is only a word

which cannot cover it –

how sad and sick I feel.

A celebration of Maeve’s life will be held online at a later date. To be notified of the day and time, please email remembermaeve@outlook.com and a link will be sent to you once details have been finalized.

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ETHICAL DEATH CARE

Cremation & Life Celebrations

530 St. Mary Avenue - Winnipeg

204-421-5501 - www.ethicaldeathcare.com

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