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Mary Eliza BIRO

April 2, 2017

Mary Eliza Biro born Jan.19, 1931 in Conmee Township near Kakabeka Falls, Ontario. Predeceased by her husband John Wesley Biro August 2001. Eldest daughter of John and Myrtle MacLean. Survived by her sister Joan MacLean of Kakabeka Falls. Also survived by her daughter Bonny June Morris, grandchildren Colin and Elinor, also daughter Rebecca (Becky) Joan McMahon, (husband William {Bill}) granddaughter Debi, great grandson Wyatt, son John Kenneth Biro, (wife Linda), grandchildren John David and Kathryn, also son Robert Dale Biro, (wife Anita) grandchildren Tanya, Paul and Amie. Mary grew up on a farm in Conmee Township and went to a one room school. She was the first person from the school to graduate from High School, boarding in Port Arthur during Grade 9 until a school bus was available for students to go to High School. She loved sports, skiing in particular, and horses. She married John Wesley Biro in 1951 in Kakabeka Falls, Ontario and lived in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Exeter and Cumberland, Ontario, Port Alfred, Quebec, Chatham New Brunswick, Zweibrucken Germany, Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, and Ottawa, Ontario. At John’s retirement they moved to Keremeos in 1983 and built their retirement home. Mary was a loving, intelligent and witty mother with a great sense of adventure. She traveled through much of Canada with her husband John who was a member of the Canadian Armed Forces. When posted to Germany for four years she learned to speak German. While in Germany the family traveled around Europe on vacation and she enjoyed learning the historical details of various sites. In Keremeos Mary joined the Sagebrush Painters and spent many years painting local scenes. Her only disappointment was that Keremeos didn’t have a Curling rink so she could continue to curl. She joined the Seniors Choir and always enjoyed singing. She taught herself basket making and then, as Mary the Basket Lady taught basket making at the Grist Mill. She enjoyed belonging to the Grist Mill and helped out with membership drives and attended many special events. She helped out with many groups and received a volunteer award for her service to the South Similkameen Museum Society. She was a member of the Red Hats for many years. She was always up for a challenge, learning to play pool in her 70’s and kayaking at 80 and studying ukulele when she was 85. Mary loved cats and always had a feline companion or two. The Keremeos Seniors Activity Centre was the hub of her life where she sang, made crafts and helped out at many of their functions. A celebration of Mary’s life will be held at the Keremeos Seniors Activity Centre on Saturday, April 29th at 2:00 pm.



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