OTARI, Mary

MRS. MARY OTANI

Mrs. Mary Otani, of Grande Prairie, AB passed away at home on Saturday, December 15, 2018, at the age of 74 years. Mary was born at the family homestead near Star City, SK, on January 4, 1944. She was the second of five children (Jean Anne, Mary, John, Richard and Charlotte) born to Rosalind (nee Smylie) McIntyre and John McIntyre. Mary attended school in Star City, SK and went on to complete her teaching certificate in Saskatoon, SK. She became one of the youngest staff members teaching at Hamilton Junior High School in Lethbridge, AB by the fall of 1964. She met Takeshi (Tak) Otani who was also hired to teach at the same school. They were married in Lethbridge, AB in 1967 then moved to Warner, AB where she lived until 2005 when she moved to Lethbridge, AB. In 2009, Mary moved to Grande Prairie AB. She is survived by daughter Jennifer (Greg) Otani Semach of Grande Prairie, AB and son Robert (Christine) Otani of Saskatoon, SK; six grandchildren: Sasha Semach, Kira Semach, Avery Otani, Sage Otani, Amara Otani, and Felix Otani; two sisters Jean Anne Sekella and family, and Charlotte Hullmann and family; and two brothers John McIntyre and family, and Richard McIntyre and family. She was predeceased by her parents John and Rosalind McIntyre and her loving husband Takeshi (Tak) Otani. Mary was an educator and life-long learner. She will be greatly missed by her daughter and son and all her six grandchildren for her unending love and support of their many aspirations and endeavours. She will be greatly missed by friends who knew her to be a clever, observant, insightful, and kind person who was generous with her time and her experience. Relatives and friends are invited to pay their respects on Saturday, December 22, 2018, at 3:00pm, at Oliver’s Funeral Home in Grande Prairie, AB (10005 107 Ave.). A viewing will be held prior at 2:00pm. Interment will follow in 2019 at Lethbridge, AB, with the date yet to be determined. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society (200, 325 Manning Road NE, Calgary, AB, T2E 2P5) or Heart and Stroke of Alberta (Unit 109, 10126 120 Ave., Grande Prairie, AB, T8V 8H9).

Condolences may be sent by visiting www.oliversfuneralhome.com