May 21, 1935 – June 18, 2024
Our beloved Mum, Gran, sister, cousin, aunt, niece, friend, and neighbour left us on June 18.
Mavis was born the fourth of six siblings to Sylvia Heritage Webb and Harry Webb in Rosyth, Kingdom of Fife, Scotland. Save for one childhood year bedridden with rheumatic fever, Mavis didn’t stop moving, thriving, and changing the world for her family and friends for just over 89 years. Despite wearing a giant rubber gas mask to school for the six years of WWII, during which she lost her father, Mavis described her childhood, shielded from the hardships by her stalwart mother and beloved grandparents, Harry and Naomi Heritage, as full of wonder.
Entering a culinary arts apprenticeship through the British Rail Hotel system at 15, Mavis travelled throughout Scotland and England learning under an Escoffier-trained mentor for five years. In the Kyle of Lochalsh, she met a fellow apprentice, a gregarious Glaswegian by the name of George McEwan, and they made an instant connection. After marrying, they lived in Glasgow, raising their family, until making the decision to emigrate to Canada to secure a future for their three children, Christine, George, and Alex. First in London and Stratford, the McEwans settled in Guelph in 1967 and made a marvellous life for themselves.
Never one to shy away from work, Mavis tried her hand at many endeavours from factory work at Potter and Brumfield and Owens Corning, to school bus driving, to every possible skill in the culinary trade including waitress, house & kitchen manager, chief bottle washer, chef, caterer, and restaurant owner. From preparing and serving food to the British Royal family to owning and operating Pickwick’s Steakhouse and Tavern, running John F. Ross CVI’s cafeteria, managing The Guelph Curling Club kitchen, Camp Joshua’s kitchen, catering weddings, funerals, parties, family and friend gatherings. Mavis always gave her full considerable talents and support well into her 80s. And we are all the better from her generosity and kindness.
Mavis was a talented artist, mastering her painting, sewing, quilting, stained glass, and ceramics making. She was an ardent gardener and nature lover. Late in life, she embraced technology, staying in touch with family and friends around the world on her iPad. And her capacity to help extended through countless volunteer opportunities including Hospice, nursing homes and charity groups, school fundraisers, through taking time for friends, neighbours and family members for medical appointments, sharing food, memories, laughter & tears. Mavis could be counted on to help to the best of her abilities, leading with her heart, which was bigger than herself.
Gran McEwan was never happier than when she was with her grandchildren, really any children, where she could engage them in play, cooking, creating, sharing stories and plotting mischief. Her face would light up seeing any child and children knew a kindred spirit upon seeing her.
Left to celebrate her life well-lived are her children & grandchildren Christine & Gillian, George, Beth, Charlotte, Sara & Sam, Alex, Wendy, Allison & Andrew, brothers Les & Glynne, Aunt Joan, nieces Susan and Sylvia, a myriad other nieces, nephews, & cousins in the Webb and the McEwan families, cherished neighbours, true friends, caring co-workers, and an army of health professionals who will remember her with fondness.
The family would like to give our many thanks to Drs. Potter, Schwarz, Chiasson, Kottacchi, Kozij, Glick, Ruddock, and Guelph General, St. Mary’s, and Grand River hospitals, along with all of the health professionals who cared so well for Mavis over the years. Four years of support from Community Paramedic Services has been vital and this last six months aid from Home & Community Care, Closing the Gap, Care Partners, ParaMed, & Home Instead. She left them all the better for having known her.
On a parting note, her brother, Leslie, wishes, “fair winds and a following sea, big sister”.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, June 21st, 2024 at Wall Custance Funeral Home, 206 Norfolk St., Guelph, Ontario. Reception to follow in the Wall-Custance Family Reception Centre. Wear colour to remember the vibrant spirit of our Mum.
A live stream of the service will be available via Zoom by clicking this link.
Arrangements entrusted to WALL-CUSTANCE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL (519-822-0051 / www.wallcustance.com).
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the charity of your choice in memory of Mavis.
A tree will be planted in memory of Mavis R.C. McEwan in the Wall-Custance Memorial Forest.