Peacefully at home, after a brief illness.
Wife to Graham, mother of Brent (Monique) and David (Fiona), and devoted grandma of Claire and Megan. Survived by her sister Florence Jarrett in North York, Ontario.
The fourth of five children, Mari McWhirter grew up in Millikin on the northern edge of Toronto and was a champion sprinter. An adventurous and independent young woman, Mari traveled across Canada and North America, working on the Columbia Icefields, road tripping to Mexico, and hitching rides on logging trucks from Tofino. Eager to escape rainy Vancouver after a year, she set out for Montreal. There, she met Graham Rubeli, the love of her life. They married in 1965, moved to Ottawa in 1968, and lived in the same house for over 50 years.
Mari had an amazingly varied career. She graduated from Journalism at Ryerson Polytechnic, and found work as a journalist, advertising copywriter, public relations officer, and entrepreneur. In Montreal, she famously interviewed Edith Piaf. in Ottawa in the mid 70s, she handled PR for the opening of the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario. In 1982, to aid Vietnamese refugees, Mari and two friends founded Clothes Encounters of a Second Time, a consignment boutique that remains a fixture on Beechwood Avenue today.
Mari was devoted to her children, family and friends. She was an excellent cook and enjoyed hosting dinners and get-togethers at her beloved home in Ottawa and lunches and apres ski at Mont Tremblant. Her many passions included theater, jazz, mystery novels, gardening, baseball, skiing, tennis and golf.
Mari and Graham traveled the world together, regularly visiting Graham’s family and friends in Australia,road-tripping to Florida, and exploring New Zealand, Fji, Hawaii, the UK, Israel, Jordan, and Malta. They were frequent visitors to Vancouver to see their beloved granddaughters before retiring at their Ottawa home.
When Parkinson’s Disease cramped Graham’s style in the last 15 years of his life, Mari devoted herself to his care and held strong to her vision that they stay at home. All who knew her were inspired by Mari’s strength and resilience as she overcame breast cancer in 2019 and recovered from a hip replacement in 2023 in record time, all the while caring for the person she loved most.
Our thanks go out to the devoted personal support workers who supported Mari over the last five years as she cared for Graham; Esperance, Bayu, Sylvia, Ann-Marie; and also to Drs. A. Dauksza, J.F. Hilton, J. Brodeur, and the devoted nursing team at Bytown Palliative Medicine.
A celebration of Mari’s life will follow in the Summer. Donations can be made to Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre, Ottawa Community Services Organization, Breast Cancer Action Ottawa, or a charity of your choice.
Digital Guestbook
Berry de Mestral
Alan Rae
My association with Graeme extends over 70 years.
We were together at Melbourne HS in 1954, worked in MMBW in 1959 and travelled to UK to work on Steelworks in Wales in 1960. He was already established in Ottawa when I visited him in 1961. He had several trips back to Melbourne and on one trip managed to have the full crew from Wales together.
I visited them when competing in two Keskinada races and stayed over at Mt Tremblant.
Jadzia and I always enjoyed the company of Mari and Graeme.
Elena and Anto
Our deepest condolences to Brent, Monique and Rubeli family. You are in our hearts.
Barbara Thatcher
Mari and I were friends from age 9. I loved being with her and her family. Mari was always our ‘first foot’ across the door New Year’s morning, bringing a penny, a piece of coal and an orange, for my superstitious Mother. We had many happy times together over the years. She will be missed.
Barbara Thatcher
I will miss you, Mari.
ESPERANCE
My sinceres and deepest condoleaces to Rubeli family
I knew Mari since 5 years when i was helping her to take care of her loved husband Graham.
Mari was a speciale wife to Graham.
She was very devoted to her family.
She was a strong, courageous, kind and smart woman.
I leaned a lot of good things from her.
May she rest in peace.
She will be missed
John Hodges
Mari and Graham Rubeli were close friends of my brother,Jerry, when I arrived in Montreal in November 1965 where they were all living. Graham's brother, Bob, was also living in Montreal at that time. It was not long until I met Graham and Mari, and we were all friends together. Jerry and Graham lived in the same house in Montreal and when they moved out Bob and I moved in. Graham and Mari were a most hospitable couple and I spent a number of enjoyable times in their company.
After Mari and Graham moved to Ottawa and Jerry moved to Vancouver, Bob and I continued to live in Montreal until we both eventually returned to Australia. We have remained close friends ever since our Montreal days.
On my first return visit to Canada in 1993 I phoned Graham and Mari and spent considerable time catching up with Mari. Sadly, Graham was at work, therefore I was unable to catch up with him. Circumstances prevented me from seeing them at that time, but Mari and I had a really good chat, which sadly, turned out to be our last.
Even though I have not met Graham's and Mari's sons, may I extend my sincere condolences to them and their families at this sad time in their lives. To Graham and Mari, rest in peace. I am sure you are both together again.
John Hodges.
Australia
Susanne and Normand Fortin
Our sympathies to the Rubeli family. We knew Mari and Graham 25 years ago, at Tremblant. We couldn't have had nicer neighbours. We were sad to hear of Mari (and Graham's) recent deaths.
Bouillon Sylvie et Jacques Lafrance
It is with regret that we learned of the death of Mary, a kind person with whom we enjoyed chatting while we were neighbours at Tremblant. We will keep a good memory of her and Graham. We extend our deepest sympathies to the Rubeli family.
Jerry and Kathy Hodge s
Very fond memories of time spent at Lake Massawippi with Graham and Mari. So sad to lose two very special friends.
Our condolences to the family.
I was very saddened to hear of this news today. I have great memories of working at the store with Mari and the others when I was a teenager. My sincere condolences to you and your family, David as well as to Brent and Monique.