PERRY, Pelagia Pauline 'Polly' (nee Horbaty) - It is with overwhelming sadness that we announce the passing of Pelagia Pauline 'Polly' Perry (nee Horbaty), of Toronto, on April 17, 2019, in her 93rd year. Surrounded and comforted by family, Pauline left us peacefully in her sleep.
Pauline entered this world as Pelagia Paulina Horbaty on May 8, 1926. Born in a farmhouse in Libau, Manitoba, Pauline was the 9th of 13 children born to the late Fred and Catherine Horbaty.
She is predeceased by her brothers Andrew, John, Mike, Peter, Nick, and Steve and by sisters Mary, Annie, Katie, Nettie, and Rosie and survived by brother George. She was affectionately known as Auntie Polly to her many nieces and nephews around the world.
When Polly graduated from the rural one-room schoolhouse and was old enough to leave the farm, she moved to Winnipeg and began working at Canada Packers. Polly embraced all of the activities not found on a farm. She joined a bowling league and made regular visits to the library. Judging from her keepsake letters, it seems that she also had a few suitors. Who knows what life would have been like if she had not moved to Toronto to keep a watchful eye on her older sister.
As a young woman, new to a big city, Polly sought work in social environments. She worked at the Arlington Tavern and the Brunswick House, where she met and married Gus Perry. Soon after, they purchased a home on Salem Avenue in Toronto and welcomed Kathleen and Christine. In 1958 they purchase a home on Brimley Road, just outside of Toronto, in the suburb of Scarborough and welcomed 2 more children, Candice and Sandra.
Pauline was determined to learn to drive and even though she had to take the test on more than one occasion, she never gave up. She was relentless and nothing could stop her from doing what she had set in her mind.
Once the kids became less dependent, Pauline sought work outside the home at various jobs including Fran’s Restaurant, Quality Records and Toronto Plastics.
Her family-oriented passion for taking care of others led her to the Red Cross, where she tirelessly worked while a homemaker up until retirement in her 70th year.
In bits and spurts, Pauline continued to enrich her life by taking classes in Peer Support, Personal Growth, Sign Language and the Scared Skinnies swimming lessons. She truly believed that you are never too old to learn something new.
Pauline was masterful at recycling and believed everything could be re-purposed again and again. She saved everything, because you never know when something might be useful to someone.
Originally a Winnipeg Jets fan, Pauline was converted and loved cheering on Toronto; she loved watching the Maple Leafs and the Blue Jays.
She also loved reading and watching true crime stories, autobiographies, and was very much enthralled with the Royal Family and their shenanigans
She leaves to mourn her daughters Kathleen Buchanan, Christine Perry (Roy Webb), Candice Perry and Sandra Perry-Tatone (Orlando Tatone). Pauline was a devoted, loving grandma to Kelly Bannister (Paul), Kerry Klein (Michael), Kristy Buchanan-LeSage (Michael), Kevin Buchanan (Nadia), Catherine and Kiauna Tatone and GG (great grandma) to Kaeden, Nikolas, Mason, Rachel, Allegra, Alice, Illijana and Callum, and is predeceased by her husband Augustus (Gus) and her great-grandson Noah.
She will always be remembered as the strong, dedicated, and loving backbone of our family, and although her physical presence will be deeply missed every day, we have so many wonderful memories to fall back on to help us through. We carry her in our hearts and take comfort knowing she is peacefully resting and watching over us all.
Thank-you to everyone at Seven Oaks who knew and cared for Pauline over the past 4 years.
A very special thank-you to the Scaborough Rouge Valley Hospital (Centenary) 9th floor nurses Gloria and Roel for their attentive care to Pauline and our family at this most vulnerable time.
Visitation will be held at McDougall & Brown Funeral Home, Scarborough Chapel, 2900 Kingston Road, Toronto, ON, on Tuesday, April 23rd, 2019, from 10am to 11am, followed by a Chapel Service at 11am.Burial Duffin Meadows Cemetery, Pickering.
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