Monday, January 14, 2019
To Rob and Family, It is with my deepest sympathy that I am writing to you today. Mary Ann touched so many lives, so let me tell you how she has touched mine. As you know, Mary Ann was a very close and dear friend to my family, especially to my grandparents and most especially to my mother, Bonnie. In a sense, Mary Ann was like a second mom to my own mother especially since the passing of my grandmother, Norma. Now, being a new mother myself, I have realized how tight the bond is between mother and child and Mary Ann was there to fill that void for my mom. I never got the chance to talk to Mary Ann to tell her this myself so I feel comfort in the fact that I am able to write you this today. So Mary Ann....thank you for being there for my mom. You were her rock. You have helped my mom become the person she is today...now, more than ever, she is my rock. Thank you. My memories of your Mom are quite humorous....mind you, most of them are from my childhood, so they may not be so funny now looking at them as an adult. Whenever we would visit my grandparents, from time to time I would hear Mary Ann yelling "ROBBIE!" and I remember telling my Grandma..."Grandma, Robbie's in trouble again!" Moments later I saw Rob climbing the willow tree that hung over the fence between Mary Ann's and my grandparents house. The other humorous memory I have was around Christmas time when I was about 10 years old or so. My mom and I had gone over to Mary Ann's house for a visit and Mary Ann put out a plate of Christmas goodies. Well, I saw, what looked like a chocolate Timbit, on that goodie plate. I loved chocolate donuts so much, I snatched it and immediately stuffed it in my mouth. To my demise, it was NOT a Timbit....it was a rum ball....with a lot of rum in it. I didn't know what to do. I did not want to be rude and spit it out. I definitely did not want to swallow it. So I sat there with it in my cheeks. I am sure I had a look of worry on my face. Mary Ann leaned over with a napkin and said, "don't worry Honey, you can spit it out. I guess I should have told you those were rum balls." Needless to say, now many years later, unless I am at a drive thru window at Tim Hortons, I always ask if those donut balls have rum in them. Rob, as you know, your mother was, without a doubt, a wonderful person, and she will be missed greatly. Take comfort in the fact that she has raised such a wonderful man and loving father. You should be so proud. Take good care. Love always Jennifer (nee Krey), Dean and Charlotte Jackson
