MAINE, Mary-Eva

April 9th, 1934 —> Nov 19th, 2022

Extraordinary mother, loving wife, loyal sister, doting grandmother, engaged and dedicated community volunteer. Mrs. Mary-Eva Maine (nee Curry) was born April 9, 1934 in Belledune, New Brunswick to Margaret Curry (nee Boyle) and William Curry in the ocean-front family homestead built by her great-grandfather Daniel Curry after emigrating from Ireland in the 1840s. As the third of eight children, Mary-Eva always cherished her Irish-Canadian roots and her extended family which stretches from Halifax to Victoria. After graduating valedictorian of her class and studying at Mount St. Vincent in Halifax, Mary-Eva met the love of her life Frank Maine during the summer of 1958 when both were working at Atomic Energy of Canada in Chalk River. Frank, then an engineering student at Queen’s University, wooed Mary-Eva with his invitation, written on birch bark, to take her for a nature walk.  Engaged by the end of the summer, Mary-Eva changed her plans to move to Vancouver and instead took a job in the Registrar’s office at Queen’s University, before marrying Frank in May of 1959. The first of
Mary-Eva and Frank’s six children, Michael, was born in Kingston in 1960, shortly before Mary-Eva and Frank flew to England, where Frank began his PhD in Chemistry at the University of Cambridge and Mary-Eva worked in administration at the National Health Service. After a magical three years, including a 6-week European driving and camping tour with young Michael, the Maine family sailed back to Canada, then added daughter Natasha in Quebec City, son Stephen in Toronto, and twins Shaun and Shane in Sarnia. Tragedy struck in 1968, when Michael and Natasha were killed by a drunk driver while walking to church. Daughter Elicia was born in 1970, before the Maine family relocated to Guelph, Ontario where Frank and Mary-Eva put down roots (including a birch tree and
several willows) and lived for the remainder of their lives.

Mary-Eva and Frank became deeply embedded in their new community, serving as Brownie and Cub Scout leaders, dedicated volunteers in their Catholic parish of Holy Rosary, and as a supportive parliamentary spouse and committed Member of Parliament in the government of Pierre Elliot Trudeau. After parliament,  they started Frank Maine Consulting Ltd., with Mary-Eva as the Office Manager. Mary-Eva was an exceptional mother, teaching her children through the Montessori style of education and feeding their curiosity every chance she had. She attended every parent-teacher-night, listened to every practice speech, supported every educational opportunity and nursed every cold and fever. Her children and spouse were blessed to always feel her unwavering, unconditional
love. Mary-Eva’s many acts of kindness extended beyond her family to her community, through her neighbourhood, her support of charities, and her volunteer work with the CWL, the IODE and the RCIA.

Mary-Eva is predeceased by her loving husband of 59 years, Frank, her son Michael, her daughter Natasha, her brothers John Curry and Patrick Curry and her sisters Margie DeHart and Catherine Curry. She is survived by children Stephen, Shaun, Shane, and Elicia Maine, granddaughters Katherine, Julia, Chloe, Rhiannon and Bronwen Maine, and grandson Fen Maine Wood, along with brothers Dan, Bill, and Richard Curry, extended families, dear friend of 50 years Deloris Yaskowich, and many caring neighbours, friends, and parishioners. The Maine family extends our gratitude to the nursing and caregiving staff at St. Josephs, The Ellington, Nurse Next Door, and most especially to Pam Valeriote, whose exceptional care brightened Mum’s final years.

Friends are invited to meet with the family at Gilbert MacIntyre and Son Funeral Home and Chapel at 252 Dublin Street N on Friday Nov. 25, from 7- 9 p.m. A funeral mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Sat Nov 26, at Holy Rosary Church in Guelph, Ontario, with a coffee reception to follow. Mary-Eva will be buried beside her beloved husband, Frank, and her children Michael and Natasha, in Sarnia Ontario. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Holy Rosary Parish.