Date of Birth: August 28, 1919
Date of Death: March 29, 2018
Maria was born Aug. 28, 1919 at House No. 272, District of Jaworow, Republic of Poland, to John and Mary Rogalsky.
John was concerned about political instability in Eastern Europe and immigrated to Canada in 1926 to make a new home for his family. Mary, sister Helen, and their mother followed in 1928 when they sailed from Danzig, Poland to Montreal, Que. after a stop at Pier 21 at Halifax, N.S. to register their arrival in Canada.
Following a short stay with relatives in the KillalydDistrict, the Rogalsky family moved into their new home that John had built on Alberta Street in Melville while working on track maintenance for CNR.
Mary was the oldest of six girls, most of whom dedicated their lives to the care of others by becoming nurses.
After graduating from St. Henry’s Roman Catholic School, Mary joined the war effort, assembling Sten submachine guns in Toronto, ON. Mary then began a long career of compassion in nursing. She obtained a Practical Nursing designation at the Tuberculosis Sanatorium at Saint Boniface, MB, then received a Registered Nurse designation at Saint Joseph’s Hospital School of Nursing at Glace Bay, N.S. The school was operated by the Sisters of Saint Martha. Mary subsequently received a Diploma of Nursing Administration at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon.
Between periods of schooling, Mary nursed in Melville at St. Peter’s Hospital. She then became an administrator of the Fort Qu’Appelle Indian Hospital before moving to Edmonton to work at the Charles Camsell Hospital and subsequently the children’s ward of the Royal Alexandra Hospital. In 1983 Mary returned to the home of her parents on Alberta Street for her retirement years.
Mary enjoyed gardening, knitting, reading and crossword puzzles. She also enjoyed her treks to Grand Forks, B.C. to visit her sister, Helen Bates. Mary also took time to visit old acquaintances at nurses’ reunions.
In her later years Mary was physically very healthy but was robbed of some of life’s pleasures by Alzheimer’s disease, becoming a resident of St. Paul’s Lutheran Home in Nov. 2011.
Mary passed away peacefully on Thursday, March 29, 2018 at 98 years of age. We were all hoping that she would become a centenarian but know that she is in a better place.
Mary was predeceased by her parents, John in 1958 and Mary in 1973. She was also predeceased her next oldest sister, Emily, who died at six weeks. Sisters, Helen Bates passed away in 2013, Sophia Bell in 2006, and the youngest of the family, Genie MacPherson, in 1997.
Mary is survived by her sister, Stella Bell, of Melville, as well as numerous nephews and nieces, great-nephews and great-nieces.
The Funeral Mass was held on Saturday, April 7, 2018 at 11 a.m. from St. Henry’s Roman Catholic Church with Rev. Fr. Andrew Sowa O.M.I. as the Celebrant.
Arrangements were by Bailey’s Funeral and Cremation Care, Melville.
