May 24, 1925 - June 12, 2021
Aunt May passed away this last Saturday, in her home situated in her beloved "forest" in Robson, B.C.
She leaves behind her nephew Robert (Brenda) Wadey, her niece-in-law Barb Wadey, and her great-niece and great-nephews Robyn, Brendan, Alexander and Christopher Wadey.
She was predeceased by her father George Burroughs, her mother Emelie "Emma" Burroughs (Duquette), her sister Ann Wadey (Burroughs), brother-in-law Robert Wadey and her nephew Patrick Wadey.
Aunt May was an independent soul who paved her own way. A proud member of one of the pioneer families of Chaplin, Saskatchewan, she pursued advanced education at a time when such a path was not commonly taken by a woman.
A member of the College of Pharmacy graduating Class of 1947 (University of Saskatchewan), her occupation took her to many places before she settled in Robson, close to her sister Ann's family.
Aunt May was fiercely self-reliant, building and maintaining her home and land mostly on her own. She remained mobile until only a few months ago, keeping her driver's licence current until her 96th year and driving with greater skill than someone half her age.
Aunt May was a champion for any animal that came her way, including her beloved dogs, the stray cats who either totally or partially adopted her (and for whose medical needs were paid by Aunt May out of her own pocket), the raccoons, the deer (who loved eating Aunt May's hostas), a cougar every once in a while, and a bear or two who wandered into her glade and stayed for a bath in the pond.
She even trained and became a Healing Touch practitioner, volunteering her time to help both humans and animals in times of pain. Though Aunt May was a very private person, she maintained a wide group of friends, including the morning coffee club at Tim Horton's and most especially, her friend Grace Halcro, without whom Aunt May could not have remained in her home as she desired.
The family cannot thank Grace enough for giving Aunt May the greatest gift: support for Aunt May so she could live where and the way she wanted - on her terms.
There will be no memorial service but the family asks that we all raise a cup of coffee and a bagel in memory of a unique woman.