It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Mary Catherine Groves (nee Dietiker), age 78 years. She passed away peacefully at TBRHSC after a brief illness with cancer with her entire family by her side.
Born in Chicago, Illinois to John and Edna Dietiker. She grew up in Pontiac, Illinois with her brother, John prior to moving to Canada in 1955 where she assisted her parents in running Keystone Lodge and later, Sak Bay Lodge on Sturgeon Lake, Ontario. Mary married her loving husband, William Groves in 1962 and welcomed their four children. Bill and Mary would later move to Thunder Bay so the kids could attend school.
Mary worked for the Thunder Bay Public Library until her retirement 1998. Her interests included knitting, sewing, cleaning dad’s blueberries, doing taxes, her collie dogs (Lady 1, Lady 2, Sheba and Terra), her hummingbirds, playing and singing Honeycomb on her guitar and spending the summer months at the family camp with Bill.
Mary is survived by her beloved husband of 61 years, Bill; children, John (Linda), Deborah Duguid (Rene Ledger), Tracy, and William Jr. (Donna) and Wendy Slobozian; grandchildren, Jason (Jenn), Ahron, Joshua, Jenna, Kevin (Kathleen) and Sharon (Jason); great grandchildren, Ashleigh, Sydney and Bryan; sister in-law, Janice Dietiker and brother in-law, Morris (Carol) as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family.
Mary was predeceased by her parents, John and Edna Dietiker; brother, John Dietiker, parents in-law, Albert and Ester Groves; sisters in-law, Dorothy Hertz, Jean and Shirley Allison, and Beatrice Hamlyn and brothers in-law, Albert and Don Groves.
The family would like to express our deepest gratitude to the nurses and PSWs of TBRHSC, who looked after and cared for her in her final days.
Funeral Services for the late Mrs. Mary Groves will be held on Friday, February 3, 2023 at 10:30am in the EVEREST FUNERAL CHAPEL, 299 Waverley Street at Algoma with Fr. Victor DeGagne officiating.
If friends so desire, in lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society, St. Andrew’s Dew Drop Inn or a charity of your choice.
