Mary Cordellia Procunier (Irwin)

Mary was the daughter of Frederick Stanley Procunier and Amy Elizabeth “Eliza” Weston, born July 22, 1922 in Elgin County, Ont. She was one of six children.

Mary taught in a one room schoolhouse in Straffordville, Ont.

She enlisted in the Army on September 22, 1943 with the Canadian Women’s Army Corps and worked during World War 2 in London, Ont. completing paperwork and forms for soldiers who were injured and recuperating in hospital. It was during this time that she met Albert John Irwin “Ab” (WW2) who was admitted for several months recovering from wounds he had sustained in France.

Mary was discharged on June 6, 1946 and she and Ab married in 1947, moving shortly after to the war time housing in Acton…specifically 212 McDonald Blvd. By 1974 they had moved to 10 Division St.

After the birth of her four children Mary returned to teaching in the Acton public elementary schools. She was a proud member of the Acton Legion, Branch 197.

Mary passed away on March 23, 2015 and is buried at Fairview Cemetery in Acton.

Truly a Canadian Hero. Her story lives on.

*Information submitted by Sandy Irwin Cooney and taken from Ancestry.ca.

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