I am on my way. Here is some of my Angel Dust for all of you. Celebrate my life. I can breathe easy now. Much love to all my friends and family and my heart to Clara, my most precious gift.
When Mary was 9 yrso the Kinsmen of Fergus, Ontario sponsored an event called Coins for Change. The goal was to cover the entire floor of the local hockey arena with coins. Children and adults cleaned out their closets, took bottles back to gather return money, local businesses donated boxes of rolled coins from the bank that took a team of volunteers to unwrap and place carefully on the floor. Mary wanted to thank the local Kinsman for their sponsorship. Her hand written notes about having CF (Cystic Fibrosis) or as Heather Summerhayes Cariou entitled her book, Sixty-Five Roses follow. This is the essence of Mary’s spirit and Force of Purpose, Driven Against All Odds.
Mary, you are making the change you wanted to see in the world. Good you!
I will be updating this post with these words in a more legible form.
Karen McCulloch
No words I write will do justice to the admiration I have for a young woman, Mary Boleyn, who met both life and death head on. Faced with incredible challenges, including cystic fibrosis, Mary was a role model in making unimaginably tough decisions bravely, finding the positive in the little everyday things to appreciate, sharing herself openly and rawly, and radiating love … always radiating love and gratitude.
There is no love greater than the love Mary felt for her young child. My wish is that Clara will derive strength from knowing that love and support in her heart always.
I’m grateful to Mary for the lasting image of pink glitter cremated ashes that she shared recently on Facebook. She wrote, “You know how hard it is to get rid of glitter…. I will haunt you forever!!!!” Glitter will forever remind me of Mary. She will haunt me, in a positive way. She will make me smile, and with gratitude, for the small delights in life.
To her Mom Heather, and her Dad James, as a parent, my heart breaks for you. My own adult kids are close to Mary’s age. The passing of your beautiful daughter has hit many of us hard, particularly in the CF community — a testament to the meaningful impact Mary made on the lives of many.
I had the pleasure of meeting Mary at work. I remember her resume standing out because she had such a large gap in her work history, that I later found out was because she was raising her young child on her own. Her personality was infectious and she never stopped smiling. Something I would also later learn about was the type of Mary smiles. It is no lie that she was always smiling but the better I got to know Mary, the better I started to see the truths behind her smiles. Sometimes Mary’s smile was completely genuine and content, but sometimes she smiled so we didn’t notice the amount of physical pain she was in, sometimes she smiled when she didn’t want to talk and answers any more questions, sometimes she would smile because life was making her happy, sometimes she smiled just so I wouldn’t worry. But her Clara smile was the best of all, because it was so full and without a trace of sadness or doubt. I had lots of heavy talks with Mary about her illness, her daughter, and her struggles but we always ended it with one of those smiles, a big hug and hope that tomorrow would be the day she would get the call. I was lucky to have known Mary the time I have. I’m lucky for every hard conversation that made me go home and understand fully how lucky am to have what I have. I’m lucky for all the visits, late night chats, and moments where she reassured me everything was okay, when we both knew it wasn’t. I’ll miss you, but I’m so glad you’re finally free.
Mary, your big heart and infectious smile has endured over the years. Keeping up to date with your life, via your mom, keeps us going. We will miss you and are better off for having met you. Your support of our project still is ingrained in our hearts. God speed.
Bruce Lloyd
Coins for Change Project Chair
Fergus and District Kinsmen Club
My last conversation via Facebook IM with my cousin:
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JUL 1ST, 4:05PM
Dee
Just wanted to say Happy Canada Day to my favorite youngest cousin! I wish I could be in NC to hug you in person, but I can’t. If you trip comes through Minneapolis, please let me know!!
Strong memory of mine: The day before Scott’s wedding, you running around with us in the backyard of Uncle Mike’s house, sun in your curls, laughing. ? Thought I’d share!
JUL 1ST, 6:40PM
Mary Boleyn
Thank you so much for the memory! I don’t remember it, but I love hearing about it ?
Don’t think I will be able to come for a visit unfortunately. But I will keep you posted. Congratulations on the wedding to a CANADIAN!! XOXO
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Clara:
Your Mommy loved you so very much. When she was getting sicker and knew it would be hard for her to care for you, while she was making arrangements I told her she could always cry on my shoulder. It’s not fair that she had to go on first, but she never for one second stopped loving you when she was here on earth and I believe we love even after we go on.
Uncle James:
I pray that you and all of us be able and allowed to grieve as we need. May her love reach you every day.
Remembering the first time I saw your smile. You bounced into the gym, wearing a pink tutu and introduced yourself. You my dear, left an imprint on my heart!
xoxoxox
Michelle
Mary,
Your smile could light up the darkest places on earth – you were one of the strongest and most positive people anyone could have the pleasure of knowing, and your love for others was vast and endless.
I am sorry I didn’t have the chance to get to know you better, but Now you’re at peace and free of pain.
My love and hugs always,
Until we meet again…
Xoxoxoxoxoxo