MOLLY (MARY EMMA FRANCES) McLENNAN

Molly (Mary Emma Frances) McLennan (nee Phair) passed away peacefully in her home on Friday, Sept. 26, 2014 in the company of her caregivers secure in the comfort of her unshakeable faith.
She was born Oct. 17, 1917, the only child of H.E. (Bert) Phair and Alice Mary Delphine Phair.
Late in life, she was united in marriage to Douglas McLennan in 1988. Together, they spent many happy years travelling and enjoying life until prevented by his failing health.
Molly was predeceased by her parents; her husband; her stepson, Tony McLennan; and innumerable close friends.
She is survived by a stepson, Ian McLennan; godson, Philip McLean; and Tony’s wife, Heather, his daughter, Saylor, and her children, Jayden and Rachel.
Molly’s life was freely and generously spent in the service of others, including her family, church, community, friends, and country.
During the Second World War, she was recruited to work in New York for British Intelligence under Sir William Stephenson (Intrepid).
One of her prized possessions was a letter from him for her war service. That letter hung inconspicuously on a wall in her home as she was far too modest to point it out to visitors to her home.
Molly was an independent and adventurous person who was well-read and travelled extensively. She could hold her own in virtually any conversation. She also was an accomplished cross-country skier who, at the age of 70, completed a gruelling cross-country skiing trip to Norway.
She loved interacting with people, especially children, and enjoyed attending or hosting social gatherings. She had outlived many of her oldest and dearest friends, but had a great capacity for making new friends wherever she went.
She loved the cabin that she shared with Enid Thompson and Edith Williams, and had many fond memories of her time spent there.
After the death of her husband in 2003, she became a member of the “Chicken Delight Church Group,” which convened after the daily 11 a.m. mass at St. Ignatius Church. She credited this group of close friends for keeping her going.
If it could be said that she had a failing, it was that she found it difficult to accept help once some was required by her failing health. She was far more comfortable helping than being the one who was helped.
A funeral mass was celebrated on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2014 at 11 a.m. at St. Ignatius Church, 225 Stafford St., Winnipeg, with Rev. Fr. Joe Newman (S.J.) officiating.
In lieu of flowers, in memoriam donations may be made to the Building Fund of St. Ignatius Church or to an appropriate charity of your choosing.
Near the end, Molly remarked that she had no regrets in life and would be happy to live it all over again.