Obituary of Mary Grace Barrett (Forbes)

Mary Grace Barrett, 97, passed away peacefully at Mount Hope Long Term Care Centre in London in the early hours of June 18, 2026. Born in Wingham, Ontario on March 25, 1929, Mary was a fair-haired, beloved daughter to Alastair (Scotty) MacIntosh Campbell Forbes and Esther Maud (Chettleburgh) Forbes. Her parents and grandparents came from Perthshire and Norfolk in the U.K. and were among the many hardworking immigrants who, before World War I, left poverty and adversity behind for a new and better life in Canada. Mary and her older sister Helen attended elementary school in Wingham and later graduated from South Collegiate after Scotty’s job with the Royal Canadian Legion required a family move to London from Huron County. At South Collegiate, Mary Grace Forbes was friends with Josephine Barrett and through Jo, met her older brother Charles. Mary and Charlie became high school sweethearts and married in June 1949 at St. James Westminster Anglican Church, London. Mary excelled in history and was keenly interested in politics. Her first job after high school was at the London Free Press, writing stories for “the women’s pages.” Mary loved working at the Free Press which sparked her lifelong interest in news and current events. Charlie’s banking career during the 1950s and 1960s involved many transfers to bank branches in Milton, Long Branch, Strathroy, St.Thomas, Kitchener, Windsor, Wallaceburg,Toronto, Exeter and St. Marys. Mary became adept at packing up the entire household on short notice and although she was quiet and reserved, always made new friends through church and community groups. Mom focused her energies on raising four daughters. Her parenting was strict and involved consistency and regular routines. She encouraged us to participate in school and community activities and enjoyed small town life. Mom was forthright, honest and hard-working. Despite her busy home life, Mom liked reading, playing bridge and watching old movies to relax. In the 1960s, she returned to the workforce in St. Marys, first at Smith Jewellers, Marshall’s Ladies Wear and then, at St. Marys Memorial Hospital. Dad and Mom moved to 168 Thornton Avenue, London in 1974 and Mary began a lengthy career at St. Mary’s Hospital on Grosvenor Street. Upon her retirement (1992), she and Dad travelled to the U.K., Europe and U.S.A. Mary attended the Grand Theatre, Stratford Festival and London Pops Concerts well into her eighties. She was an avid newspaper reader throughout her life. Sadly, Mom’s health rapidly declined after a hip fracture in 2021 when she lost her mobility and struggled with dementia. Mary was predeceased by her husband Charles Victor Barrett (2014), daughter Andria (Barrett) Hahn (2014), sister Helen (Forbes) Neely (2017), sisters-in-law Josephine (Barrett) Palmer (1994), Alma (Barrett) Johnston (2013), and brothers-in-law Eric Palmer (1996), Douglas Palmer (2003), and Peter Neely (2014). She is survived by a dear sister-in-law Jean (Barrett) Palmer of Woodstock. Mary is cherished always by daughters Paula Gregory (Scott), Claudia Barrett (Jan Simonson), Roberta Barrett (Robert McKay) and son-in-law Marcus Hahn (Mary Poulin). Also mourning her death are 11 beloved grandchildren: Andrew Hahn (Katie), Emily Hahn-Trnka (Jeremy), Adam Hahn (Adrienne), Patrick Gregory (Lara), Katherine Gregory (Adam), Kenin McKay (Peter), Morgan McKay, Iain McKay (Veronica), Eslin McKay, Mary Grace Simonson and Laurel Simonson (Ian). Mary was great-grandmother to: Max, Ella, Ben, Alexander, Amelia, Aidan, Wallace, Avery, Alistair and Adelaide. Our family is grateful for the kindness, care and compassion Mom always received at Mount Hope. Cremation has taken place with interment in Dorchester Union Cemetery. If desired, donations in her memory may be made to the St. Joseph's Health Care Foundation, Canadian Cancer Society, Heart and Stroke Foundation or Alzheimer's Society SouthWest Partners.