Regimental Number: W11474
Rank: Private
Mary, born on September 22, 1920 in Centreville, Nova Scotia, was the 3rd oldest in William (Bill) and Rose (nee Swift) Graham’s family of seven children; Ester, Blanche, Gladys, Wilmeta (September 3, 1923 – October 1, 1923), Billy Jr., and Norman. Bill and his brothers travelled from Saskatchewan to Alberta in 1910 and filed homestead applications on land in the Kleskun Hills area. In 1931, Bill and his family moved to a homestead in the Fitzsimmons District where Bill continued to farm with oxen.
Mary married Hector Burrows in January 1935 and the young couple made their home with Hector’s parents in Grande Prairie. Hector and Mary eventually separated and Mary moved to Vancouver to be near her parents. She found employment as a waitress.
Mary enlisted with the Canadian Women’s Army Corp. on May 23, 1942 in Vancouver. Mary was discharged on March 16, 1946 and settled in Vancouver with her parents. Private Mary Burrows received the 1939-45 War Medal and the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal. Mary and Hector divorced and she subsequently married William Alexander Fedorick. They had one daughter, Gloria. Mary worked as a hairdresser the majority of her life. She passed away on January 11, 1992 in Surrey BC. Mary was cremated and interred at the North Shore Crematorium, North Vancouver, BC.
Contributed by Wanda Zenner
Sources:
Smoky River to Grande Prairie
Northern Tribune newspaper January 31, 1935 (wedding)
Familysearch.org
BC Death Records
Interview with Helen (Burrows) Horrigan