Mary was born April 12, 1912 in Grouard, Alberta. Her parents were Charlotte Castor and Andre Andrews. She married Albert Cunningham October 6, 1930. Together they moved to various locations in the Lesser Slave Lake area for work. Following Alberts passing in June 1964, Mary and her children moved to Swan Hills, where she worked as a chambermaid at the Swan Hills Hotel. In Nov. 1967, she relocated to Quesnel B.C. where she met Alec Rogerson and was married on February 17, 1968. They moved to Peavine Metis Settlement in 1998 and lived with Yvonne Beauchamp for a short period of time before moving to the Pleasant View Lodge.
Mary loved to see people laugh and made jokes to see this happen.
She is survived by her husband Alec Rogerson, children Flora Mearon, Howard and Jean Cunningham, Raymond and Irene Cunningham, Doris Carifelle, Leonard and Ruth Cunningham, Rose King, Michael and Pauline Cunningham, Ronnie Cunningham, Larry and Connie. 14 children, 18 step children, 78 grand children, 167 great grand children, 101 great great grand children, 1 great, great, great grand child.
She is pre-deceased by her first husband Albert Cunningham, her parents; Charlotte and Andre Andrews, daughters; Yvonne Beauchamp, Lilly Anderson, Eunice Gauchier. sons; Charles and Roland, Step-daughters; Louisa Cunningham, Maryanne Prince, Emilia Willier, Agnes Cardinal, Helen Hamelin, Mary Walker, Victoria Cunningham, Virginia Auger, Aline Chalifoux, Noella Cunningham, Mary Louise Willier, Step-sons; William, Pete, Joe, Fred, Sam, George Cunningham, numerous step-grand children and great grand children. Sorry if I missed anyone.
A Funeral Service was held on October 25, 2010 at St. Pauls Roman Catholic Church, High Prairie, Alberta.
A Mother’s Love
A Mother’s love is something that no on can explain,
It is made of deep devotion and of sacrifice and pain,
It is endless and unselfish and enduring come what may
For nothing can destroy it or take that love away . . .
It is patient and forgiving when all others are forsaking,
And it never fails or falters even though the heart is
breaking . . . It believes beyond believing when the world around condemns, And it glows with all the beauty
of the rarest, brightest gems . . . It is far beyond defining,
it defies all explanation, And it still remains a secret
like the mysteries of creation . . . A many splendoured miracle man cannot understand And another wondrous evidence of God’s tender guiding hand.
This life of mine has truly passed.
I love you all to the very last.
Weep not for me, but courage take.
And love one another, for my sake
Love the family