Mary O’Shea
100 Years of Faith, Hope & Charity
Muriel Edith (Mary) O’Shea slipped away peacefully at noon on June 29, 2014 at the Chemainus Health Care Centre, surrounded by family. She would have turned 100 on November 13.
Mary was born in Raynes Park, England and married Cyril (Cy) O’Shea in 1938. They brought the family to Canada in 1957. She and Cy raised their 6 children in Chemainus and became members of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. Mary was a member of the Catholic Women’s League and believed in ‘practising what she preached’ by doing volunteer work in the community that involved visiting the sick and elderly, teaching children to read, and doing Hospice work.
One of her great loves was singing, and she was a member of the Chemainus Seniors Centre Choir for many years. She decided to branch out in her sixties and learned to drive, swim, type and play the guitar. She made her debut at the Dancing Bean in Chemainus when she was 92. When the house band said ‘one more time’ she played her whole repertoire again.
Mary and Cy moved to New Denver, BC after the children were grown and Mary continued her charity work and singing there. Cy passed away in 1989. They were always good friends with Grace and Lou Shelling, and Betty and Paul Viala.
She is survived by her children: Jeanne, Mike, Terry, Phil, Kathleen and Marie and their spouses. Mary was enormously proud of her numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She even lived long enough to have 2 great-great-grandchildren.
She leaves her friends Grace Shelling, Paul Viala, Alice Bazoin and Gladys Steven.
The family would like to thank Dr. Manhas, her friends and the staff at The Steeples Assisted Living, the staff at Cowichan District Hospital, Cairnsmore Place and the Chemainus Health Care Centre for allowing Mary to live her final years with dignity.
There was a funeral mass at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Chemainus at 1 pm on Saturday July 5, a reception followed at St. Joseph’s School Hall. It was Mary’s wish that there be no flowers. If you wish, please make a donation to the church or to Amnesty International.