Mary Louise Townsend

With profound sadness and love, we announce the passing of Mary Townsend, a beloved mother, tireless advocate, and visionary, who left this world on September 12 , 2024, at the age of 72, after a courageous three-year battle with a brain tumour. Her life was defined by an unshakable spirit, a deep compassion for others, and a devotion to nurturing and inspiring all those around her. She will be remembered as a mother to all—family, friends, and strangers alike—whose open arms and boundless kindness left an indelible mark on everyone she encountered.

Born in 1952 in Halifax, Nova Scotia she was raised with strong values of community, resilience, and selflessness. These values shaped her approach to life, making her not only a devoted mother to her own children but a nurturer to anyone who needed guidance, support, or a listening ear. To Mary, every child was her child, and every heartache she witnessed was her opportunity to help heal. She dedicated her life to raising her younger siblings after the devastating loss of her father when she was still a teenager. She was the driving force behind various community initiatives that aimed to uplift those most in need.

Mary’s passion for helping others extended beyond her role as a mother and advocate. A visionary at heart, she saw the potential for change in even the most challenging situations. Whether she was organizing initiatives, volunteering at various charities, her hands were always busy building a better world for future generations. Her strength, wisdom, and unwavering belief in the goodness of humanity inspired all who knew her.

Mary devoted her life to caring for her husband, David, with unwavering love and compassion. Through his illness and disability she remained by his side, offering not only physical support but also emotional strength that kept him hopeful. Her dedication was evident in every action, from the smallest gestures of kindness to the long hours spent tending to his needs.

Mary’s love was a testament to the depth of her commitment, a bond that illness could not diminish and time could not erase. Even in her toughest times, as she battled brain cancer, Mary never lost her light. She fought with incredible grace, determination, and optimism. Her resilience was awe-inspiring, and though the illness claimed her body, it never dimmed her spirit. Through her fight, she reminded all of us of the importance of perseverance, hope, and love.

Mary is survived by her husband and her two grown children and her many grandchildren —her proudest legacy—and an extended family of people whose lives she touched. She leaves behind not only the memories of her unconditional love but also the impact of the countless lives she improved, the groundbreaking work she pioneered at Statistics Canada and the kindness she sowed throughout her life. Her legacy will live on in every heart she nurtured and every community project she worked for.

A celebration of Mary’s life will take place at Tubman Funeral Homes, 403 Richmond Road on September 26 at 2:00 pm, where friends, family, and all whose lives she enriched are invited to gather, share stories, and honor her memory. In lieu of flowers, her family requests donations be made to the Ottawa Food Bank, an organization that reflects Mary’s lifelong dedication to helping children and families in need. No child ever left her & David's home with an empty stomach. 

Rest in peace, Mary. You were, and always will be, a mother to all of us.