Mary Anne Stackhouse

Other Events:

• Employment: Elmira Public Library, Elmira, Waterloo, Ontario
• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/100781691
• Name: Mary Anne Cressman
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-31154

Notes:

Mary Anne Cressman February 23, 1944 to July 25, 2010

Mary Anne was born in London, Ontario, attended the University of Western Ontario, and dedicated over forty years to providing superb service to the library patrons of Elmira and the surrounding area. While all of this is true, it tells you little about the Mary Anne we knew and loved. If you have chosen to come here today to honour her memory, you may think of Mary Anne in one of many roles. You may think of Mary Anne, the steadfast friend. You may think of Mary Anne, the quiet neighbour or Mary Anne the pianist. You may think of Mary Anne as a young woman taking on challenging needlework projects or Mary Anne whose selfsewn clothing would rival the quality of many full-time seamstressses.

You may think of Mary Anne, the highly organized and thoroughly professional librarian with the warm smile and quiet voice. You may think of Mary Anne, the warm and accepting grandmother and aunt, reading a much-loved book to a youngster as they snuggle up on a couch. You may think of Mary Anne, the vibrant, enthusiastic mother, rollerblading around a resort town with her family on a sunny afternoon. Perhaps you have an image of the woman who walked home from work along Water/Wyatt Street for several years. Maybe when you took your seat at a Wellington Winds or Elmira Little Theatre event, you recognized Mary Anne the board member and enthusiastic supporter. Perhaps you remembered Mary Anne calmly preparing wonderful meals for large groups of family members. It's even possible you knew a Mary Anne who was not familiar to her family members. All of those Mary Annes were facets of one precious gem. As she was in choosing her books, Mary Anne was eclectic with respect to music. Depending on the mood or situation, she could appreciate a child's rendition of Jingle Bells, a personalized "silly" version of the once popular Mary Anne, a classic country ballad or a heavenly symphony.

Recently, Mary Anne expressed a special love of this song, a window on her understanding of her roots and the legacy she leaves behind.

Rise Again
Written by Leon Dubinsky
When the waves roll on over the waters
And the ocean cries
We look to our sons and daughters
To explain our lives
As if a child could tell us why

That as sure as the sunrise
As sure as the sea
As sure as the wind in the trees
We rise again in the faces
Of our children
We rise again in the voices of our song
We rise again in the waves out on the ocean
And then we rise again.

When the light goes dark with the forces of creation
Across a stormy sky
We look to reincarnation to explain our lives
As if a child could tell us why

That as sure as the sunrise
As sure as the sea
As sure as the wind in the trees
We rise again in the faces
Of our children
We rise again in the voices of our song
We rise again in the waves out on the ocean
And then we rise again.

Funeral Card

_______________________________

CRESSMAN, Mary Anne (Stackhouse) Peacefully at the KW Health Centre of Grand River Hospital on July 25, 2010, in her 67th year. Dear wife of Ron Cressman of Elmira. Mother of Chris (Lisa Harrison) Kirkness of Connecticut, Jeff (Lauren Muir) Cressman of Whitehorse, and Scott (Adrienne) Cressman of Burlington. Sister of John (Sheila) Stackhouse of Truro, Nova Scotia. Loving grandmother of Lindsay and Zoë Kirkness, Bailey and Nathan Muir-Cressman, and Owen and Gavin Cressman. Loving aunt to Ryan and Jamie Stackhouse and her many Cressman nieces and nephews. Sadly missed by brothers and sisters-in-law Ross (Karen) Cressman and Wendy (Peter) Banting. Also remembered by Peter Kirkness. Predeceased by her parents John Elwood (Steve) and Etta (nee Bell) Stackhouse. Mary Anne was widely known and respected as Elmira's librarian for 40 years before her 2009 retirement. During her career she oversaw a major expansion in the 1970s and more recently, the installation of an elevator to make the library fully accessible. She was a board member and avid supporter of Wellington Winds and Elmira Little Theatre. Mary Anne leaves behind many long time friends and family who will miss her positive energy and giving nature. Thanks to the wonderful staff at St. Mary's General Hospital and the Grand River Regional Cancer Centre. The family will receive relatives and friends for a memorial visitation on Thursday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at the Dreisinger Funeral Home , Elmira. A memorial service will take place on Friday, July 30, at 11 a.m. at St. James Lutheran Church, Elmira. Cremation has taken place. In Mary Anne's memory, donations may be made to the Elmira Library or the Wellington Winds. www.dreisingerfuneralhome.com

The Waterloo Region Record 26 July 2010

Mary — . [Group Sheet]

1. Christopher "Chriss" Kirkness

Mary married Ronald K. Cressman [Group Sheet]