After a valiant but much too long battle with Alzheimer’s Disease, our beloved mother, Mary Rush, passed away on March 9th, 2025. Mother of Elizabeth Brooks (John), Ted Rush (Penny) and Michael Rush (Debbie), very proud grandmother of Erin, Heather, Adam, Hope, TJ, Owen, Patrick, Nick and great-grandmother of Ella, Mary was predeceased by her loving husband, Frank Rush, her mother Lucy Mae (Babe) Somerville, her fathers William (Bill) Rogers and Robert Boyd Somerville and her beloved black labs, Casey and Jake. She will be missed by her loving siblings, Frank Rogers (Kathy), Roberta Somerville McFadden (Robert), Boyd Somerville and Tom Somerville (Laura) and her many nieces and nephews.
Mary was born July 27, 1939, and raised in Toronto, Ontario. She attended Blessed Sacrament School, St. Monica’s and Branksome Hall. She received her high school education with the nuns at Scared Heart Convent in Montreal and spent her summers as a camper and then counsellor “Rog” at Camp Oconto. Mary met and married the love of her life, Frank Rush, when they both worked at Touche Ross in Toronto. They began their lives together in Hamilton and then Burlington before settling in their dream home in Willowdale where they raised their family.
Mary was the consummate wife and mother and member of the community. She happily volunteered at St. Leonard’s School while her children were there and went on almost every field trip. She drove carpool in the earliest of mornings and latest of nights. She was an excellent cook and baker, and her chocolate chip cookies and Nanaimo bars were legendary. She brought that same cheery generosity to Good Shepherd Parish, where she ran the bazaar, was president of the CWL and one of the first female communion ministers. She was an active member of the Ladies Guild at Brebeuf College School. She also helped to coordinate Frank and her children over their many years at Hillcrest Minor Hockey Association. Mary was very proud of volunteering for over 25 years at North York General Hospital and was at one point head of the volunteers in the Emergency department.
In her free time Mary could be found in one of her colourful golf skirts indulging her passion at Toronto Ladies Golf Club where she was involved as a convenor and captain in addition to playing the links several times a week.
Mary loved to ski in the winters and spend her summers on Lake Muskoka. Every kid on the point knew there was always Kool-Aid in the fridge and potato chips under the bar. Mary Rush was equally at home at a cocktail party in her pearls and a ravine walk with her dogs on a muddy spring day. She had a smile and a kind word for everyone who crossed her path.
We’d like to thank Dr. Engell and the loving staff at Del Manor, Chartwell and Sunset Manor for their care. There will be a visitation at Fawcett Funeral Home in Collingwood on Saturday, March 15th from 6-8 pm, at Humphrey’s Funeral Home in Toronto on Sunday from 4-6 pm, and a mass of Christian burial at Blessed Sacrament Church on Monday, March 17th at 10:30 am.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mary’s memory at the North York Hospital Foundation. Friends may visit Mary’s online Book of Memories at www.fawcettfuneralhomes.com