Cooking was her life's passion.  On her father's farm, later in his café, and in several foodservice jobs, including two industrial cafeterias she owned and managed, she prepared and served an estimated 200,000 meals!

Mary worked in various Ontario factories during the war, returning to Cowan afterward.   Paul Wowchuk, also from Cowan, landed back in Toronto in 1947 after service overseas.   Paul returned to Cowan, and, after a whirlwind courtship, the two were married in 1948 and moved to Toronto.  They retained their strong connection to Cowan, however, returning often over the following decades.

After Paul's death in 1980, she continued running her cafeteria business until her retirement in 1993.

Mary is predeceased by her parents, Mike and Anna Kereluk, her four brothers Edward (Jean), Dan, John (Marge), and Ernie, her brother-in-law Michael Wowchuk, her sister-in-law Toni Beynon (Ted), her husband Paul, and her infant daughter Catherine.  She is survived by sisters-in-law Edna and Vicky Kereluk, and by son Gregory, a professional engineer living in Toronto.

Funeral Mass was conducted on Monday 13 August 2018 at Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Cowan, with bodily interment at Cowan Community Cemetery.  Pallbearers  were Greg Wowchuk, Ed Kereluk, Miron Kereluk, Ted Wowchuk, Dave Wowchuk, and  James Hadfield.  A Celebration of Life was held on Saturday, 15th September--see photos.