A personal note: my great-aunt Mary

[Padraig18]

Mary Boyle, nee Finney, passed away Sunday, November 23rd at the age of 93 years, 8 months and 11 days. Aunt Mary was my grandfather’s sister-in-law and an important part of our family for over 75 years. Mary had an indomitable, fiery spirit and a contagious laugh. She loved family gatherings, and needed no coaxing to get up and sing 'McNamara’s Band'--- all she needed was a cane and a hat. She spent her last two years in Holy Family Nursing Home in Des Plaines. Aunt Mary was born in Knockfenora Bruree, Co. Limerick, Ireland, and is survived by nine children: Donny, Jerry, Dennis, Kathleen, Martin, Patrick, Neal, Ellen and Joe. Her funeral mass will be at St. Stephen Church in Des Plaines, followed by internment at Mary Queen of Heaven Cemetery.

May God rest her soul; she was a good woman who lived a wonderful life.

:cry:

[bearfan454]

1. God Bless you and your family.

Sorry for your loss.

[Padraig18]

2. Thank you.

:)

[Bronco69]

3. My condolences to you and your family.

[GOPisEvil]

4. I'm sorry for your loss. Condolences to you and your family.

[SiobhanClancy]

5. Sorry for your loss,Padraig...

I'll be lighting a candle for Mary Boyle this week,and drinking a toast to an Irishwoman with a life well-lived.

[Padraig18]

8. Make it a pint of Harp!

It was her favorite! :toast:

[greatauntoftriplets]

15. A pint of Harp for Great-Aunt Mary,

That is probably what helped her life to a great age. My condolences, Padraig.

[mac56]

6. I'm sad for your loss.

May you and your family find peace and comfort in loving memories of Aunt Mary.

[Rowdyboy]

7. A long, well-lived life

is the best revenge! Each time you lose a family elder, an important link to the past is lost-most of mine are gone now, and they are simply irreplaceable.

God be with you and your family now...

on edit: "And may she be in heaven half an hour, before the devil knows she's dead!"

[bbernardini]

9. 93?!? Nicely done!

Leave it to us Irish, eh? :) My condolences, of course. On a side note, my mother is also from Limerick.

[Padraig18]

11. Aye!

Those who die of natural causes live a long time on both sides of my family--- even the in-laws. :)

[ProfessorGAC]

10. Nice Sentiment!

I hope you and your family can keep that final thought throughout this next few weeks.
The Professor

[Padraig18]

12. I once asked her...

... what was her purpose in coming to America, and she told me that all she ever wanted out of life here was to be a good mother, a good wife, and a good American citizen. She managed to be all 3. :)

[NicoleM]

13. Rest in peace, great-aunt Mary.

93 and survived by *nine* children? Wow.

[xchrom]

14. sympathies

sorry for your loss.
she sounds wonderful.

[Padraig18]

16. She was wonderful!

She was, quite literally, everyone's 'favorite aunt'. :)