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WOODWARD, May Victoria (nee Shahin) - After a life well lived, it is with great sadness that we announce the peaceful passing of May Woodward on Thursday January 9, 2020 at the age of 90. Devoted wife of R. Regis (Reg) Woodward for 70 years and mother to 7 children, 28 grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren. She held close in her heart her eighth child, Victoria, who died at birth in 1964. Predeceased by her brothers James, Charles, Raymond and George, and her sisters Barbara Mokhiber and Betty Dovi, May leaves her husband Reg, children Susan (Steve) Merville BC, Tom (Audrey) Ottawa ON, Tim (Tala) St. Catharines ON , Michael (Barbara) Oakville, Joe (Rhonda) Niagara Falls ON, Joan (Reverend John) Westwood MA, Laura (Marc) Ottawa ON, a huge extended family and friends everywhere. We are left to continue her legacy of family, laughter and generosity. Self-described as “fav” Aunt May and “Sitty” (grandmother in Arabic), May enjoyed life to the fullest, always surrounded by family and friends. Her home on Woodbine St. with its park like backyard was for many years a gathering place not only for her own children but for all neighborhood kids and her extended family. Born to Lebanese immigrants, Naif and Sadie Shahin, May was raised in Niagara Falls NY. She met Reg at a radio station in Niagara Falls Canada where she had originally hoped to meet Gordie Tapp. They fell in love and were married on December 24th 1949. Enormously proud of being an American, May loved her adopted country of Canada. They settled on the Canadian side of the border where they raised their 7 children including 2 sets of twins. There was always room for one more at the kitchen table and always enough food whether it was family, friends, neighborhood kids or anyone stranded during a blizzard! May always enjoyed some chaos and disorganization in her life and there was always the “easy way” or “May’s way” of getting things done. Her loud, booming and authoritarian voice ensured that everyone (including Reg) followed her directions with very few questions asked. A very spiritual woman and life-long member of St. George Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church in Niagara Falls, NY, May and Reg were active in all areas of the church including being one of the founders of St. George Church Camp in Allegheny State Park. More recently they helped found St. Ignatius Orthodox Christian Church in St. Catharines, Ontario. She sang in the choir, taught church school, cooked at parish meals, created items for the bazaar and of course welcomed new faces and greeted familiar ones. May was a school bus driver for many years and extended her boisterous personality to that role too. She was an avid bowler into her 80s and loved singing in the community choir. May and Reg traveled with their young family to Alleghany Camp each year and visited many relatives across the United States and Canada including camping outside Montreal with all 7 kids for Expo 67. On their 25th anniversary, they travelled to England to visit Reg’s extended family. May and Reg kept busy in retirement traveling to see their children, grandchildren and family and friends across North America. May fulfilled a lifelong dream in 2005 when she and Reg travelled to Lebanon, the birthplace of her parents. When she was no longer able to travel, she kept in touch with family through Facebook and even used on-line banking before some of her younger family members. May’s physical health declined in recent years and a move out of her beloved Woodbine home was difficult but inevitable. Even at her nursing home, May continued to make friends and endeared herself to the staff responsible for her care. The family wishes to thank Dr Hu and all the nurses and PSWs at Meadows of Dorchester Nursing Home for their kindness and compassionate care provided for both Reg and May. The family also wants to acknowledge, with gratefulness and gratitude their brother Joe, his wife Rhonda and their children for their unwavering support, love and devotion to both May and Reg. With their help, May and Reg continued to be involved with their church and extended family.
Family will receive friends at MORSE & SON FUNERAL HOME, 5917 Main St. visiting on Monday January 13th from 2 to 4 pm and 7 to 9 pm. A Funeral Service will be held at St. George Serbian Orthodox Church, 6085 Montrose Road, Niagara Falls, Ontario, at 10 a.m. Interment will follow at Lundy’s Lane Cemetery, 7489 Lundy’s Lane. In lieu of flowers, memorials contributions to either St. George Orthodox Church, 1073 Saunders Settlement Road, Niagara Falls NY 14305 or St. Ignatius Orthodox Mission, 332 Carlton St. St. Catharines, ON, L2N 1C3.
Memories, photos and condolences may be shared at www.morseandson.com