Elsie Mary Taylor

Elsie Mary Taylor, affectionately known as “Aunt Mary” in the Labrador, where she served with the International Grenfell Mission for 50 years.

Mary was born in Desford, England on April 19 1924 and passed into the presence of her Saviour on June 26, 2022 in Langley BC. Mary took her nursing and midwifery courses in England and immigrated to Canada, with her parents and siblings. They settled in Victoria. In due time they all predeceased her.

Mary came to know the Lord Jesus Christ as her Saviour as a teenager in March of 1941. A school friend was faithful in showing her, her need. Her assurance came through the verse Isaiah 53:6, in the Bible, “All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned everyone to his own way, and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”

Her faith was all important to her, and she served the Lord faithfully all her days. In 1953 she arrived on the Labrador Coast as a nurse with the Grenfell Mission. Her main nursing station was in Forteau, although she covered a lot of territory – right up to Red Bay. Her love and compassion for all endeared her to the people, and her greatest joy was delivering babies – close to 900 in total! And leading souls to Christ! Prayer was her constant companion as she dealt with very tricky cases like reattaching severed tendons and even sewing up her own lip. No doctors were there to help her, except consultation by radio - and this in code (as all the coast was listening!)

On one sabbatical she studied and attained her Nurse Practitioner degree even though she had been doing the work of one for years.  After she retired, she wrote a book about her sojourn entitled, ‘LIGHT ON THE LABRADOR”.

Wherever she went she made close friends and kept in touch into her 90’s when her failing eyesight was a hindrance.

A very tender soul, loving and compassionate with a backbone of steel!

A tribute to her by the Labradorians, engraved on a silver tray, “In recognition of the many years of nursing care and Christian Service rendered in loving devotion”.

“She hath been a succourer of many” Romans 16:2

A funeral service will be held at Yates Memorial Services, 1000 Allsbrook Road, Parksville BC on Tuesday, July 19th.

An open visitation will be held from 11:00am-12:00pm in the Sunset Room.

A graveside service will be held at the Qualicum Beach Civic Cemetery at 12:30pm.

A funeral service, followed by reception will be held back at Yates Memorial Services beginning at 1:30pm.