Good afternoon, everyone. As many of you may have read in the Globe & Mail today, we have sad news to share. Gallery Guide Mary Rochon has passed away. 

A most beautiful and insightful tribute to Mary and her life has been shared in her obituary, found here: https://www.legacy.com/ca/obituaries/theglobeandmail/name/mary-rochon-obituary?id=47926194

Mary volunteered as a Gallery Guide with us for 25 years. When I think of Mary, I think of a grand dame and consummate host. She put so much attention and scholarship into her tours and enjoyed nothing more than a good chat in the galleries. She absolutely loved being a guide and spending time socializing with volunteer friends & colleagues around the table in the volunteer lounge. During the pandemic, Mary connected us with one of her daughters, Lisa Rochon, an author who who joined us on one of our early Zoom calls to chat about her book, Tuscan Daughter.  Previous to that, Mary started a small book club to help fellow guides through grief, when she lost her own beloved husband Joel after 62 years of marriage. Mary was all about family, and connection. 

As many of you know, Mary was also an artist and I have attached one of her most recent works here,  shared with me by her family, Mary loved to travel and paint en plein air. 

Family would welcome fellow volunteers to the funeral mass, to be held at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Toronto on Saturday February 25 at 11am, with a reception at Newman Centre to follow. 

Condolences will be shared on behalf of us all in the AGO volunteer community. 

Take good care everyone,

Holly

– volunteer resources