Mary’s long journey with frontotemporal dementia has ended peacefully on May 7, 2025, at age 69 at the Beach Grove Home in Charlottetown PE with her family close. Mary was born on March 29, 1956, into the Wood Islands family home of her parents John “Jack” MacKay and Emily MacKay (nee Compton), both now deceased. She is survived by her loving husband and soulmate David Gillis and their children Jonathan Gillis (Karen) and Carley Sugeng (Hubert), all of whom she was immensely proud. She adored her grandchildren Lucy Gillis and Ryan and Emily Sugeng. Mary is also survived by three loving sisters; Judy Goodwin (Eric), Jean Brown (Allen) and Anne Tweedie (Graeme), sister-in-law Anne Gillis Penney and brother-in-law Ralph Gillis (Lori), as well as a host of wonderful nieces and nephews and a growing cadre of beautiful grandnieces and grandnephews, all of whom she loved like her own. She is also survived by her loved mother-in-law Edna (Nicki) Gillis MacLeod.

Mary had a lightness of spirit that endeared her to all those she met. She was a loving and supportive mom who took time from her career to anchor our young family home. Aside from family time, she was happiest and at her best in the company of old and new friends and was often the co-instigator of all kinds of hilarity. A graduate of Holland College, Mary’s early career was in real estate property appraisal. Her caring nature led her to work for the Children’s Wish Foundation in PEI and into community volunteerism of all types. With her organizational and social skills, she worked in several positions and projects in the tourism, agriculture and hospitality sectors in PEI, and she had an extended stint on Parliament Hill in Ottawa from which she retired in 2013. Mary loved to travel, and she and David toured the world widely in retirement until her condition precluded it.

Mary received excellent care over the course of her illness. In particular, the family would like to recognize and thank the Bruyere Memory Clinic in Ottawa, the Alzheimer’s Society of PEI, the McGill Community Mental Health team, the Health PEI Home Care network, and the amazing staff at the Beach Grove Home in Charlottetown for their respective contributions to her care, all of which were provided with a wonderful balance of professionalism and empathy. Special thanks to the many friends and family who provided her and our family with loving support throughout. Mary was much loved and will be much missed.

Arrangements are entrusted to MacLean Funeral Home and cremation has taken place. Per her wishes, there will be no visitation, but an open Celebration of Life for Mary will be held in coming weeks. In her memory, please consider a donation to the upcoming (May 24) PEI Alzheimer’s Society IG Wealth Management Walk for Alzheimer's at this link: https://support.alzheimer.ca/site/TR?px=1698547&pg=personal&fr_id=5125 Online condolences may be made at www.macleanfh.com