Marie Katherine (O’Donnell) (Savoy) Flynn 1933 – 2019
Marie Katherine (O’Donnell) (Savoy) Flynn, passed away peacefully, Monday, February 25th, at the Miramichi Regional Hospital surrounded by family. She was born in Glenwood, daughter of the late Raymond and Lillian (McBride) O’Donnell, the fourth child in a family of seven. She was predeceased her first husband, Raymond Savoy, second husband, Donald Flynn, infant daughter Kelly Flynn, two brothers, Edward O’Donnell and Pat O’Donnell (Barb), and one sister Eileen (late Courtney) Phee. She is survived by eight children Mary (Bruce) Vienneau, Brenda (Jerry) Brennan, Brian (Joan) Savoy, Joan (Andrew) Clark, Theresa (Bill) Peters, Maureen Flynn (Mario Roy), Dawn (Pat) Tucker and Paula Flynn. She is also survived by two brothers, Buddy O’Donnell (Norma) and William O’Donnell (Mary), of Miramichi, and one sister, Betty (late Cecil) Wood, of Toronto.
Marie was a doting, loving and immensely proud mother, grandmother and great grandmother, affectionately and respectively known by her sixteen grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren as Nana and Great Nana, by whom she is survived. Grandchildren: Jeremy Brennan, Amy Brennan, Ashley McDade, Bradley Peters, Darcy Peters, Angie Hunter, Sean Clark, Nicholas Clark, Kevin Vienneau, Rodney Vienneau, Steven Vienneau, Julie Tucker, Kevin Tucker, Andrea Dawson, Richard MacKnight and Jeffrey MacKnight.
Great-grandchildren: Charlie and Emma Vienneau, Camryn and Conan Brennan, Julia MacDonald, Elliot, Henry and Dorothy McDade, Bailey, Claire and Joseph Peters, Austin Peters, Curran and Cameron Hunter, and Ian Clark. Marie was also a respected and loving aunt to many nieces and nephews.
Family gatherings, celebrations, formal or otherwise, and any opportunities for gatherings with family and extended family were Marie’s fondest occasions to which she looked forward with great anticipation and much excitement, each year. Whether it was a locally hosted event or elsewhere, if at all possible, Marie would have been in attendance, and she truly cherished every opportunity she had with family.
Until very recent years, holiday celebrations and family visiting her, from beyond the Miramichi, were the only incentives needed to have Marie in the kitchen, cooking and baking and planning meals to host dinners for anyone who would wish to come. She was most content, when surrounded by those whom she loved, even if the house was bursting at the seams with invited guests. Dinners for thirty or more were typical, as there was, according to Marie, “Always room for one more. Please come!”
Having grown up on the family farm, Marie was no stranger to hard work, diligence and sacrifice. Following the sudden loss of her first husband, in a motor vehicle accident, she found her herself widowed at the age of twenty-six, with five, young children to raise. As a result, she was employed as an OR technician, at Hotel Dieu Hospital for a number of years. Later, she remarried and the family grew, so her time was spent on the home front, meeting the needs of a busy household of school aged children. Eventually, she found herself employed again, at Croft Elementary School, first as a student attendant and then as a teacher’s assistant, during the initial years of Integration in Education, in School District 8. The latter position she held, until her retirement from the work force. As her duties were assigned throughout the years, she moved on to Harkins Junior High, Miramichi Valley High School and then returned to Croft Elementary, from where she retired.
Always one to enjoy the company of others, she remained in touch with former colleagues, including recent weeks. She took pride in her work, she took her position seriously, and she was deeply devoted to the students assigned to her. Remarkably, two of her former students consistently maintained contact with her during the many years of her retirement.
Marie saw great value in one attaining an education toward a sound and productive future, having instilled this essential premise in her children. Through their accomplishments and that of her grandchildren, she found great satisfaction in the realization that they were well prepared for life. Her grandchildren gave her an opportunity for a level of indulgence and enjoyment, in which she truly revelled, after many decades of diligence and frugality, ensuring that her own children had been raised to the best of her abilities.
During the past several years, as health issues created greater challenges for her independence, undoubtedly her strongest source of motivation to overcome such obstacles, remained her interest in her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Staying in touch with them and maintaining an avid interest in their education, employment and life experiences were the facets which kept her focussed, contented and strong.
One of Marie’s hopeful wishes was that she would be able to remain at home, in her own house, until the Lord called her home. This wish granted to her in great abundance, for the past year, with the addition to her life of remarkably generous, compassionate and skilled support workers, under the auspices of Miramichi Health Training Centre. Special thanks are extended by the family to Theresa Adams, Rachel Farua, Chantal Gauvin, Donna Conroy, and Nancy McDonald. Each of you went above and beyond with your level of dedication and sincerity, which you provided consistently to our beloved mother, in meeting her daily needs and care. In particular, each of you gave her and all family members tremendous peace-of-mind, with the realization she was respected, safe and content, every day. Indeed, she felt blessed to have each of you with her.
Special thanks are also extended by the family to the numerous physicians and to the nursing and support staff of the Miramichi Regional Hospital and Extramural Hospital Staff during her frequent admissions and periods of convalescence, during recent years, and especially during these past several weeks, prior to her departure over the threshold into eternal life.
Marie will be resting at Maher’s Funeral Home, 35 University Avenue, Miramichi, NB, Wednesday, February 27th from 2:00 PM -4:00 PM and 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Michael’s Basilica, Thursday, February 28th, at 2:00 PM, officiated by Reverend John Fraser.
As an expression of sympathy, should one wish to do so, a donation may be made to the Saint Michael’s Basilica Cemetery Fund, Saint Michael’s Basilica Restoration Fund, or the charity of one’s choice.
Funeral arrangements are under the care of Maher’s Funeral Home Miramichi, N.B. Telephone 773-4321 or www.mahersfh.com
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Marie Katherine O’Donnell Savoy Flynn 25 Feb 2019..
Décès pour la Ville: Miramichi, Province: Nouveau-Brunswick