Mary Alice MCCRAE

HYNDMAN , Mary Alice (nee McCrae) Born in Montreal August 3, 1914; died peacefully in Vancouver, October 11, 2009. Predeceased by her loving husband, William A. (Bill) Hyndman in 1987 and her three younger sisters, Barbara, Madeleine, and Judy. Survived by her four children, Janet (Jock Poyen), Alexander (Carolyn Stout), Rick (Teddy) and Doug (Jean); by seven grandchildren, Caroline Hyndman, Catherine Poyen (David Zemans), Jennifer de Poyen (Jeffrey Lamont Brown), Patricia Hyndman, Midori Hyndman (Matthieu Nesme), William Hyndman, and Matthew Hyndman; and by six great-grandchildren, Skye and Jasper McKenzie Hyndman, Madeleine and Oliver Zemans, Sacha de Poyen-Brown, and Zoe Hyndman Nesme. She is also lovingly remembered by Caroline and Patricia's mother, Louise Hyndman. Mary grew up in Montreal and spent summers on the Gaspe Peninsula. A tomboy who grew into a beautiful woman with a natural sense of style, she loved to ride horses, play tennis, cross-country ski and drive sporty cars. Her adventurous nature saw her well into her eighties, when she tried ocean kayaking and continued to pursue her lifelong passion for swimming. In 1938, she married William Hyndman, and together they lived in cities across Canada, including Montreal, Halifax, Edmonton, Regina, and Calgary. In 1970 Mary and Bill retired to West Vancouver, where she enjoyed golf, bridge and walking on the sea wall. A lifelong learner, she taught herself French, and inspired her daughter and several grandchildren to learn other languages. She loved gadgets and was an early adopter of everything from the microwave oven to the computer. With family in far-flung places, she became adept at e-mail and Skype. As a widow she became a world traveler, joining family members on numerous tours and vacations. Politically and socially engaged, she avidly devoured newspaper and magazine articles in both of Canada's official languages, and sent countless clippings to her family on matters foreign and domestic. In her eighties she had a hole-in-one and won a duplicate bridge tournament. In her last days, she introduced two granddaughters to the wonders of the strong two-club bid. Mary happily celebrated her 95th birthday in August surrounded by family, laughter, and a multitude of stories about her long, eventful life. She always sang the praises of her family, but she was the most remarkable of all. She was much loved by all of us and will be dearly missed. At her request, there will be no Memorial Service. Those wishing to pay tribute to her life are invited to send a donation to Medecins Sans Frontieres ( www.msf.ca or 402 - 720 Spadina Avenue, Toronto, ON M5S 2T9). Published in the Calgary Herald on 10/24/2009