28 - Nortss Shore News — Sunday, October 15, 2000

profile

“GET involved with
your community —
think of yourself as

part of a larger group,
_vather than j just j your
own age group.”

- This spunky, knowledge-
able lady fills her days with
service to others. She appreci-

-ates all that life has, and still
is, giving her. |

in her younger years,

. Mary Swan’s thirst for knowl-
edge and love of languages
ied her to interesting places

- and | a promising career,

Mary was bern on
: February 22, 1908 in Belfast,
. Northern Ireland...
“One of four children,
Mary had a happy childhood.
Educated at home till the age
of 14, Mary was then taught
by a governess, before finish-
ing | her education at Oxford

University in Engiand.

After graduating, Marv
and a girlfriend decided to
travel to France and learn the
French language.

So in 1926, their inquiries
and contacts directed them to
4 picturesque, quaint French
village where they studied the
Janguage. Mary thoroughly
enjoyed her time there and
has many fond memories of
that peaceful, pastoral village.

. Then in 1929, she and her
brother enthusiastically wene
to Germany and studied the
German language. This, too,
was a successful and interest-
ing experience.

Mary's next adventure was
teaching Greek in a girl's
school in England, which she

~ enjoyed very much for three

years.
She then had to return
home to Belfast, as her father
ecame very ill. She did not
return to England to teach,
but married Tom Swan in
Northern Ireland in 1937.
. Tom was manager of a big

sainion fishery that later was

hydroelectrified out of exis-
tence. The fishery was forced
to shut down, so Marv and
Tom came to Canada in

“1956 to start a new life.

They lived for a time in

SENIORS.

the Port Moody
area, then the
West Point Grey
area, before
relocating near
Parksville on.
Vancouver
Island, where
they stayed for
LI years. Finally
in 1980 they
decided t2 move
to the North
Shore.

Tom died
that same year,
only four *
months after
they moved into
their new home,
where Mary still
resides.

Aftershe _
came to North
Vancouver,
Mary took a
one-year educa-
tonal course at
UBC and taught
secondary
school for one
year. However,
she did not care
for it too much,
so stopped.

She then
joined the staff
of Mitchell Press
in Vancouver as
a proofreader
and remained
with them for
several years.

Volunteering
her services to
her community

icaied VW

NEWS phote Cindy Goodman ~

very good thing,”
Mary. - :
She also helps in the
library of the Highland
United Church, and is
active in the
Highlanders Social

- Group.
One day per week dur:
ing the winter months, °”
she and ancther lady
arrange a musical pro-.
gram for the North
Shore Private Hospital.
Mary also belongs to.
the seniors’ group at
Highlands Community .
School, the Highland
Neighbours
Association, during the
‘school season.
“I prefer reading to
watching TV,” says
Mary. She has always :;
been an avid reader and
has an extensive library. >
“I prefer biographies,”
she says.
She does her own -

cooking and even a tiny”

bit of light gardening. ..
Her constant compan-
ion is her dog, Tootsie, :
who just happens to be -
a great listener. ;
Mary and Tom’s four’
children have given =

them 10 grandchildren’ °°”

- and five great-grand-_
children.” _
Time passes quickly © --.
when chatting with this
wonderful lady. Her: >:
thirst for knowledge is .
still apparent, which is

MARY Swan Is active in the Edgemont Village community, and volun- just one reason why © °

she is interesting.

and her church —‘ teers each day of the week with one organization or another.

plays a big part
in Mary’s life. ~ Highland United Church ‘she the Craft Group.

Each day of the week, cr a sorts items for the flea mar- “The monies from the
portion thereof, Mary volun- ~ ket, folds bulletins for Sunday __ craft sales go towards the
teers somewhere. For the. . services, and participates in Christmas Bureau, which is a’

it is nc wonder. she is
-.so highly thought of in her:
community and church.
Mary, we are glad you. seitled |
on the North Shore.“
Vikki Finkbeiner is a:
North Vancouver writer. If
‘ you know of someone whe.
‘might make an interesting:
profile, send your idea to Vikki
c/o North Shore News.

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