Mary Lydia Bertrand

Mary Bertrand

PITTSBURGH, PA -- Mary Lydia Bertrand, age 84, died on Feb. 13, 2003 in Pittsburgh. She was the beloved mother of Michael A. (Rose Marie) Bertrand of Madison, and of Susan M. Bertrand and Kathleen L. Bertrand; devoted grandmother of Lydia J. Bertrand and Eve Marie Bertrand, both of Madison; sister of Paul (Clara) Hidinger, the late John (Carmel) Hidinger and the late Helen Hidinger (Noble) Stewart; and aunt and great-aunt of numerous nieces and nephews.

Mary Lydia Hidinger was born on Nov. 29, 1918 in a Saskatchewan farm house with no electricity, central heat or running water. She attended the local one-room school traveling by horse and sleigh in winter and by horse and carriage in fair weather.

Paul & Mary, ~1942

Al & Mary, ~1944

Mary, Mike, & Sue, ~1950

Mary, Kate, & Sue, ~1960

Like her mother before her, Mary was an advocate of women's education and delighted in the company of her granddaughter Lydia (her namesake), who attended and graduated from Chatham College, a small women's school in Pittsburgh. Mary graduated from the University of Saskatchewan (Saskatoon) with a bachelor's degree in 1941. In her college training, Mary developed a scientific world view that she retained throughout life and transmitted to her children.

During World War II, she moved to Montreal, Quebec, where she worked in war plants and met the love of her life, Alvin Cline Bertrand. They married in 1946, immigrated to the United States and became naturalized U.S. citizens in 1952. Mary traveled and lived throughout North America with her family, living a great adventure.

Like so many of her forbears and immediate family (particularly her brother Paul), Mary loved music in all forms and was an accomplished organist. She was particularly pleased to see her granddaughter Eve inherit this attachment and enjoyed many performances of the University of Wisconsin Symphony Orchestra, in which Eve plays the violin.

Mary and her family settled in Mt. Lebanon, Pa., a suburb of Pittsburgh, in 1964. A fine cook and homemaker and perfect mother (in her children's eyes if not her own), Mary took great pride in working outside the home. In Pittsburgh, she became a case worker with the Pennsylvania Department of Public Assistance (DPA), where she rose through the ranks, retiring as an acting district director after 20 years of service. After retiring from the DPA, Mary started her next career, of 18 years, as executive assistant to insurance agent Michael Angelo Jr. Mary lived a life of service, devoting much spare time in later life to volunteering for agencies serving children, senior citizens and the mentally ill.

Although Mary converted to Catholicism late in life, she had the temperament of a Roman Catholic and raised her three children in the faith, as she promised to do in her wedding vows. Mary was devout in her faith and always depended upon the Lord. She was a devoted parishioner at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Mt. Lebanon. She was active in Bible study groups at St. Bernard and at other local churches.

Mary championed social justice and would not countenance the mistreatment of any human being. She stood for equal rights for all and women's emancipation, and was steadfast for peace, including in the present circumstances.

Mary's children were her joy, and her spirit lives on in them. Coming from a family of teachers, she valued books and learning, art and poetry, and everything creative in the human spirit. She took great satisfaction in the career of her son Michael, a teacher of mathematics and programming at Madison Area Technical College. She was his counselor and touchstone. Mary appreciated and deeply valued the work of her daughter Susan, a fine artist whose work graced Mary's home and many others. She enjoyed Susan's humor and liveliness and they were boon companions. An inveterate memoirist, Mary reveled in the success of her daughter Kate as writer and poet. She read every word Kate published, plus many private ones, and never flagged in providing loving encouragement.

Mary cherished her family as they cherished her. She died as she lived, kind, strong, and brave, fiercely independent and beloved by all.