Mary Dubash Obituary
(nee McIntosh, formerly Houchins)
Mary was born in Canonbie, Dumfries-shire, June 10, 1924. Her parents were the Rev. James Edward McIntosh and Nancy (Annie) Tocher. In 1926, her parents moved to Dumfries, where her father took his first full-time pulpit.
She was at Edinburgh University studying Geography at the end of the War when she was drafted into nursing and then into the Women's Royal Army Corps attaining the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. After finishing her degree, she began teaching back in Dumfries. In 1953, after the death of her parents, on a whim, she attended a Canadian Pacific lecture on Canada. The next morning, she booked passage on the Empress of Scotland. With two weeks left until the end of term, she left Scotland, sending a telegram informing the school that she had left. She said "I never looked back".
Once in Canada, she began working in Ottawa as an air-photo interpreter for Mines and Tech, on the first comprehensive mapping of Canada.
In 1955, she married Basil (Hutch) Houchins, in New York City, and they returned to Ottawa, then to Wakefield, Quebec, where her daughter, Anneke was born.
In 1958, she moved to Kemptville, Ontario and began teaching English, Geography, and Phys Ed at North Grenville District High School.
In 1963, in Ottawa, she remarried, to Soli Dubash, adopting his children from his first marriage, Darius (Dary) and Deannie. That led to the births of Shirin and Jamshed (Jim). In the mix were the John and Bill Stewart, Soli's step-sons via his first marriage.
Mary returned to teaching English, Latin, and Geography, with positions at Eastview High School, Laurentian, Canterbury, Sir Wilfred Laurier, Hillcrest, and Brookfield high schools. She planned to take early retirement in June 1988 in order that she and Soli could enjoy retirement together. It was not to be. Soli passed away suddenly, in March of 1988.
Mary went on to take a course in flower arranging, working at Fine's Florists before starting her own floral arranging business from her home. She also worked doing home care and palliative care for Bradson’s.
Over the years, she was active in the NDP, the Ottawa Choral Society, the Centennial Choir, First Unitarian Church, and as a Charter Member of the UU Fellowship of Ottawa (UUFO). Perhaps the most meaningful involvement was when, not long after suffering a heart attack, she travelled to Nepal to volunteer at the Child Haven Home in Kathmandu where she was fondly remembered as Mary Di-Di (Auntie).
Mary developed Alzheimer's Disease. Despite this, she remained happy and joyful, surrounded by family, as a loving grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother. She was Mom, Nan and Nana, to family and friends of family and many others. She is remembered fondly by family, friends, colleagues, and former students from 30 years of teaching. She died on September 25, following a fall in her home.
She is predeceased by her parents, former husbands, Soli and Basel (Hutch), and son Bill Stewart. She leaves behind a loving family - sons Darius "Dary" (Cristy), Jamshed "Jim" and John Stewart (Donna); and daughters Anneke, Deannie (Lionel) and Shirin (Marc); and grandchildren, Jessica, Charles (Melissa), and Ange (Ryan); ; Vanessa (Randy) and Tamara; Soli and Zaran, Gabby (Matt); Justin (Trevor) and Erika (Joel); as well as great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
Friends are invited to visit at the Central Chapel of Hulse, Playfair & McGarry, 315 McLeod Street (at O’Connor) on Sunday, September 30 from 2 p.m until the time of the Memorial Service in the Chapel at 5 p.m. In Memoriam donations to Child Haven International or to the Dementia Society appreciated.
