Mary Elizabeth Laing

We are deeply saddened to announce that Mary Elizabeth Laing (née Brown) (1949–2025) passed away peacefully with her children by her side after a long and courageous battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Mary faced her final years with remarkable strength, meeting each challenge with resilience, and filling her days with laughter, love, and precious family moments.

Mary Elizabeth Laing was born in Toronto, Ontario in 1949 and was blessed from the very beginning with a built-in best friend, her identical twin sister, Carol. She spent most of her childhood in beautiful Victoria, British Columbia, where her life truly began to take shape and where she met the love of her life, Bob Laing.

Mary and Bob were married in 1970 and built a life full of adventure, laughter, and love for one another. Together they raised two children, Chris and Kelly, spending countless years travelling, cheering from sports sidelines, and creating memories that would shape their family forever. Bob’s passing in 2005 left a lasting ache in Mary’s heart. She missed him every day and carried their love with her always.

Mary was a passionate nurse whose career was rooted in care, advocacy, and strength. She later earned her MBA and went on to run care facilities, where she continued doing what she loved most, helping others and making systems better for the people inside them. Giving back was always important to Mary, and she generously volunteered her time and expertise throughout her life, continuing to support causes and communities that mattered deeply to her. She was equal parts sweet and spicy, compassionate and sharp, and never passed up a good debate.

Mary also knew how to enjoy life. She never met a chocolate she did not like, loved a good dirty martini, and brought humour and spark into everyday moments. After Bob passed, Mary continued to travel, explore, and say yes to new experiences. She was fiercely independent, resilient, and deeply proud of standing on her own while holding her family close.

Mary wore many titles, daughter, twin sister, wife, mother, friend, nurse, manager, but her proudest role by far was Grandma. She adored her grandchildren and spent her happiest recent years cheering them on from the sidelines of games, performances, and everyday moments. There was nowhere she would rather be than watching them shine.

Mary is survived by her children Chris (Jillian) and Kelly (Trevor), and her beloved grandchildren Jaxon, Nixon, Mason, and Ryder. She is also survived by her twin sister Carol Brain (Keith), their children Kevin and Lindsey, and their spouses and children. Mary is further survived by Bob’s brother Peter Laing and his spouse Karen.

Mary will be remembered for her warmth, her wit, her fierce love, her independence, and her strong opinions, which she never held back. She spoke her mind, stood her ground, and did so with conviction and heart. Her legacy lives on in the family she cherished, the lives she touched through her work and volunteerism, and the countless memories that will forever bring smiles, laughter, and stories worth retelling.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mary’s memory to the Alzheimer’s Society of British Columbia. The family would also like to extend their deepest gratitude to the nurses and care aides at Amica White Rock for their exceptional care, compassion, and kindness.