PITRE (nee Plachner), Mary
21 October 1912 - 20 February 2011
Mary Anne Pitre (nee Plachner) passed away peacefully in Pleasant View Care Home on Sunday, February 20th, 2011. She leaves behind to remember her her only child, Germaine St. Paul, grandchildren Matteo Caratozzolo, Marco Caratozzolo and Christina Caratozzolo; sisters Jean Thompson, June Allan, Helen Bogash, Carol Mazankowski and Eleanor Telford; sisters-in-law Therese Gamache, Lucille Fagnan and Florence Lefebvre. Mary was predeceased by her husband, Emmanuel (Manny) Pitre, grandson Antonino (Nino) Caratozzolo, great-grandson Cesare Neill-St. Clair, brothers Edward Plachner and John Plachner; her parents Marion and Anna (Burzmynski) Plachner and her beloved grandmother Thekla Skitsko. Mary was born in Opal, Alberta, one month premature, at her parents' homestead, their first-born child. After childhood on a farm near Skaro, Alberta, Mary studied nursing at the Misericordia Hospital in Edmonton, graduating in the late 1920s. While nursing in Bonnyville, Alberta, Mary met Manny Pitre, who became her husband and lifemate. Mary was the first Matron of Sunnyside Manor, St. Paul, Alberta's first senior citizen's home. She also later became the first Matron of Blunt's Nursing home in St. Paul. Later, Manny and Mary moved to Vancouver, and eventually retired to Mission, B.C. Mary and Manny were both always active in the Catholic churches wherever they lived, Manny eventually becoming a 4th Degree Knight of Columbus and Mary a lifetime member of the Catholic Women's League, and a Lady to her husband's Knight. Mary will be always remembered for her kindness to everyone and her sense of humour.
The family would like to give great thanks and gratitude to the wonderful, caring staff of Pleasant View Care Home, where Mary lived for 11 years, and to Dr. Smith, her physician. A funeral mass will be held at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church at 32550 7th Ave, Mission on Friday February 25th at 11:00am.