Obituary of Maria May

MAY- Maria (Janisse) Nee:Laurin Born August 9 1908 in Webwood, Ontario. Predeceased by husband Antoine Janisse and Don May. Loving mother of Edgar Janisse and his late wife Stephanie; Sr. Antoinette Janisse SNJM; Lucille Seguin and husband Phil; Helen Janisse of London, and Laurence Janisse and wife Alice, of Toronto. Cherished grandmother of Patti, James, Jennifer, Andy, Marcel, Matthew and Aimee. Loving great-grandmother of eight great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren and aunt to several nieces and nephews. Maria was the eldest and only surviving child of Alma and Joseph Laurin. Her siblings were Alma (Louis) Nelson, Alice (Art) Peltier and Leo Laurin and Eva Laurin. Her father was a barber in Webwood and when the pulp industry in the town took a downturn, he went to Ottawa and then came to Windsor to find work. Soon he brought his family here and life looked promising until he fell victim to the plague in 1918. Maria took on many responsibilities and began working at an M&P Grocery store at the young age of 14. Her sense of responsibility stayed with her for many years as she always devised ways to increase the family income during the depression. She took in boarders and learned the millinery craft. She became personnel manager at Woolworth, later Zellers "dimestore" on Ouellette Avenue and eventually worked at payroll in the office at Overland Express. When she married Don May in 1958, she began another stage of creativity in her life. Today members of her family still enjoy the many treasures of her arts and crafts. Maria enjoyed good quality of life. Until a few years ago, she paid all her own bills, saw to repairs in her house, and always loved having visitors and speaking to friends on the phone. Visitation at WINDSOR CHAPEL FUNERAL HOME, 1700 Tecumseh Rd. E. on Tuesday, December 16, 2008 from 2 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. Prayers Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. Relatives and friends will be received for visitation at Holy Name of Mary Church (711 McEwan) on Wednesday, December 17, 2008 from 10 a.m. until time of Funeral Mass at 10:30 a.m. Interment to follow at Heavenly Rest Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Sisters of the Holy Names to help in their various ministries with the poor and the disadvantaged or the Multiple Sclerosis Society. Online condolences and cherished memories may be shared with the family at www.windsorchapel.com