Obituary of Elaine Theresa Hary

Elaine passed away peacefully just before sunrise, after many years with dementia. Originally from New Brunswick, she married and raised her family in Ontario but forever loved the East Coast. She loved to swim in the ocean, taking full advantage of a low tide to take a walk or floating in the swells of waves. If she found herself on a shell beach, she couldn’t help but fill her pockets with shells large and small.

Born in New Brunswick, Elaine was the second youngest of eight and her brothers and sisters were instrumental in her life. After the death of both her parents by the time she was 17, the siblings stayed close despite living across Canada.

She fell in love with a handsome young Hungarian, and together she and Tibor built a life that included four children, seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren. For almost 40 years summers were spent on Loon Lake in Muskoka, in a place that she and Tibor built together. They celebrated their 50^th wedding anniversary with family and friends on the legendary Segwun a Muskoka steamship that they would travel on each summer. The Muskoka tradition continues today as Peter has built his own summer home.

A member of St Patrick’s church in Markham for more than 50 years, she wove herself into the often-invisible network of what it takes to support a community. She baked, cooked, cleaned, ironed, visited, prayed, fundraised, sang- and she did it all with joy and pride. Elaine knew that building a strong community takes many hands and was always ready to jump in and help. She would make things happen with humility and grace.

She is now reunited with her beloved husband Tibor, and together they will watch over their family from heaven.  She leaves behind her children Jennifer (Len), Elizabeth (Mark), Peter (Deborah) and Karen (Ryan), grandchildren Nicole, Jessica (Adam), Mackenzie (Patrick), Logan (Holly), Claire, Michael and Luke, and great grandchildren Millie and Emerson. Our family is grateful to the compassionate 1 North team at Markhaven who cared for our mom since 2020. Family and friends may visit at Dixon Garland Funeral Home, 166 Main St Markham from 6pm-9pm Thursday October 31, 2024. Funeral mass will be celebrated at St Patrick’s Church, 5633 Hwy 7, Markham, at 10:30am Friday November 1, 2024.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Markhaven Foundation, specifically for resident recreation.