Mary Vinish-Baxter

Mary Vinish-Baxter (nee Scheidl) passed away peacefully with her family at her side in St. Paul's Hospital, Saskatoon, in the evening of Saturday October 26, 2024. She was 93 years old.

How does one celebrate a life that was full and remarkable? For Mary was truly a remarkable woman with a remarkable life story.

Mary was born on August 2, 1931 in Stonehenge, Saskatchewan, and was adopted at the age of two by her loving parents, Mary and John Scheidl, from an orphanage in southern Saskatchewan. They already had one son Joseph but Grandma always wanted a little girl. Mary was an immediate ray of sunshine added to the family farm just outside of Wakaw, Sask.

Grandma Mary died in 1952, Grandpa John died in 1967, and Joseph died in 1993.

Mary always excelled at school (graduating from Grade 12 at 17 years old and going on to earn three university degrees while working full time) and learned to play the piano from the nuns at the convent in Wakaw. She was so good at the piano that she achieved the highest level possible from the Royal Conservatory of Music.

After high school, Mary earned her teaching certificate at the age of 17 from the Normal School in Saskatoon (that is, the early form of provincial teacher's college). She began her teaching career at various one-room school houses in central Saskatchewan. Living in the teacherage next door and trying to corral students from grades one to twelve must have been quite a challenge for a 17-year-old. She always laughed that she never revealed to her students that at least one or two of them were actually older than her.

She met, fell in love with, and married Andrew Vinish on November 4, 1950. They had four children together - Lyle (1951), Lorne (1957), Lloyd (1960), and Suzanne (1966). Lyle married Diane Weir in 1976, Lorne married Brenda Parno in 1982 (one daughter Jillian, who married Mark Paulsen in 2009 with one daughter Emma), Suzanne married Brent Keen in 1987 (one son, Alexander who married Cailee Bell in 2023), and Lloyd married Alyson Gates in 1998. Sadly, Andrew died in June 1983 at the age of 57.

In 1958, Andrew, Mary, Lyle and Lorne moved from the farm to Saskatoon where Mary started her long career educating physically and mentally handicapped children at John Dolan School. In 1963 she became principal and remained in that position until her retirement in 1988.

Mary lived alone for almost twenty years before she married Richard Baxter in May 2002. Richard was a widower with two sons (Garth, married to Lisa with daughters Brianna, Kaylee, and Megan) and Gary (married to Joanne). The Baxters quickly came to love Grandma Mary very much (and vice versa) and had many family adventures and occasions together in Ontario and Saskatchewan.

2024 has been a difficult year for Mary. Richard died in January, Mom's dear long-time friend Barb Wilson passed in June, and Lorne died suddenly in August. Mary likely died of a broken heart as much as from anything else. Auntie/Grandma Mary was a extraordinary woman who had a very positive impact on people far too many to count. She will be sadly missed by all.

A Celebration of Mary's Life will be held on Saturday, November 2nd at 10:00 a.m. at the Edwards Family Centre (333 4th Ave. North Saskatoon). Parking is available across the street at Saskatoon Funeral Home.