Mary E.M. (nee Rogers) Newbury

March 29, 2023
In loving memory ~
Mary passed away peacefully in Victoria on March 29, 2023, at the age of 96. She was predeceased by her beloved husband of 59 years, Edward W. Newbury, and by her brother Jack Rogers. She is survived by her brother Darrell, and her four daughters, Mary Victoria (Allan McEachern, deceased), Heather, Elizabeth (Bob June), and Alexandra (Craig Walker), and grandsons Connor and Liam (Jessie Jones).
Mary was born in Ladysmith to Jack and Mary Rogers. She acquired a lifelong interest in the retail business from her father, who owned Ladysmith Trading Company, which served local residents for nearly a century. But it was her musical talent that shaped her life for many decades. Even before graduating from high school, she had begun her career in music as a pianist and organist. After receiving her Bachelor of Arts at UBC in 1948, she married Ed, and after brief stints in Calgary and Vancouver, the couple moved back to the Island. She took up her first official post as a church organist and choirmaster at St. Andrew's United Church in Nanaimo after her music teacher, Andrew Dunsmore died. Mary continued on there until Ed was transferred back to Vancouver where she played and led the choirs at Trinity Baptist and then at St. Helen's Anglican Church. When the family returned to Victoria in 1974, she played at St. Philip Anglican Church in Oak Bay for over 30 years. She was ecumenical, as long as a church had a decent pipe organ, she would play! All of these posts of course involved not only Sunday services but countless weddings, funerals, and rehearsals, which were a part of the rhythm of life in our household. She and Ed (who was a deep aficionado of classical music) instilled a love of music, especially choral music, in all their daughters.
Mary was a 60-year member and past Worthy Grand Matron of the Order of the Eastern Star, and a member of Daughters of the Nile.
"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith". 2 Timothy 4:7
The Newbury family would like to acknowledge with thanks the support of caregiver Sharon Lawless and express their gratitude to the staff at The Heights at Mt. View for their service to Mary and for their compassion in her last years.
"Be at Peace Mom"
A Service of Remembrance will be held on Saturday, May 20, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. at St. Philip Anglican Church, 2928 Eastdowne Road, Victoria, B.C.
Condolences may be offered at www.sandsvictoria.ca.




 Arbor Memorial