Nan Mary Agnes Whately (nee Snider)

Mary Agnes (Nan) Whately (née Snider) passed away peacefully in her 98th year on September 5, 2023 at Amica Peel Village in Brampton. She was predeceased by her loving husband Des (Desmond Elbridge Whately) and will be remembered forever by her dear sister Katherine (Wesley) Nivins. Nan was the cherished mother of Chris (Heather), Lyle (Joanne), Jan, Debby (Randy), Vicki (Art), “adopted” daughter Liz, grandmother of Conor (Hannah), Alex (Nate, Adam), Tyler, Emily (Elliott), Karen (Blair), great grandmother of Jackson, Wyatt, Ella, Penny, Aleksi and Zoé. Fondly remembered by Susan and Dennis, the Ahmadzai family and many nieces, nephews and friends. “Olive juice” to all. Nan grew up in Goderich, Ontario. Although hard of hearing from an early age, she learned to lip read and never let this disability hold her back. While working at her father’s dairy in Goderich, she captured the eye and heart of a dapper young Aerial Navigation instructor named Des, always claiming it was the extra scoop of ice cream that did it! After marrying, they lived in many places including Montreal, Toronto, RCAF Station Mont Apica, Ottawa, Trenton, Belleville, Winnipeg, and Goose Bay, Labrador. She was quite an athlete playing volleyball, curling, snowshoeing, skiing and she used to brag about being the best hockey goalie when all the boys had gone off to the war. The family took frequent camping holidays and she was better at backing up the trailer than anyone. Nan was known for her homemade muesli and bread, sewing ballet costumes, making barbie doll clothes, helping with girl guide cookies, her love of tulips and was an avid quilter. Nan always kept a bottomless bowl of Werther’s candies for everyone. Friends, neighbours, or kid’s friends were welcomed into the home for a visit or a great meal making them feel part of a vibrant family. Nan called herself a “Domestic Engineer” expressing to the world the important role of being a mother, homemaker and family chauffeur! She knew how to live, how to love and how to make a person smile, and in general was just a fun person to spend time with. Nan was an amazing woman who touched the lives of so many. A special thank you to her “Amica family” who cared for her, and came to love her in the last 5 years of her life. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to “Canadian Hearing Services” or a charity of your choice. A celebration of life will be held at North Bramalea United Church, 363 Howden Boulevard, Brampton, ON., L6S 4L6 on Monday, October 9th, 2023 between 12-4pm. Eulogy at 1pm. Her ashes will rest forever at Beechwood Cemetery in Ottawa beside those of her beloved Des. https://www.chs.ca/page/memory-gifts