It is with the heaviest of hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved mother, Mary Catherine Power, aged 96. Mom passed peacefully away at Placentia Health Care Centre on Wednesday, April 24, 2019 surrounded by the love of her family.
Predeceased by parents, Joseph and Sarah Ellen King nee (Pretty), 6 of her siblings of whom she was the oldest, her loving husband of 60 years, Martin, her sons James and Gerald, and daughters Rita and Lucy.
Leaving to mourn with broken hearts and loving memories are son Bernard (Veronica), son Martin Jr., daughter Shirley, son Terry, daughter Sandra Smith (George), daughter Joyce Picco (Neil), son Barry (Janet), son Richard (Mary), son Glen (Kim). Sisters Celine Hammond & Agnes Keating (Ron) and brother. Cecil King.
Also leaving behind are her beloved 31 grandchildren, 42 great-grandchildren and 12 great-great grandchildren.
Wake will be held at St. Jerome’s Church in Long Harbour on Friday, April 26, 10 – 12, 2 – 4 pm, and 7 – 9 pm. Funeral service will be held Saturday, April 27 at 11:00 am. Private internment to take place at later date.
Mom loved flowers . Flowers gratefully accepted or donations may be made to a Charity of Ones Choice.
This extraordinary woman who now sits with the angels went by many, many names:
-Mary Catherine by her beloved mother and father -Kit/Kitty by her loving husband of 60 years -Grandma/ grandmother / nan by 31 children -Great-grandma by 42 children -Great-great grandma by 12 children -Aunt Catherine by countless nieces and nephews -Sister by 9 brothers and sisters, And most endearingly called MOM by 13 very grateful and now heartbroken children who say goodbye to her today.
Mom was a woman devoted to her home and her family. So much so that when she was a young girl and moved away to St. John’s to go to work for the first time, she cried for a whole month. She felt so lonely and miserable without her family that she came back home to help her mother to take care of the house and to care for her younger siblings.
When she had her own family and moved down to the bottom from Kings Point she spent many hours visiting her mother. We all as children remember the many visits to grandmother’s house.
Life was very hard in the 40s and 50s in NL raising a large family meant hard work and long hours with little or no money. Mom and Dad made do with what they had and not one of us 13 children ever felt in need or want for anything. We didn’t ever feel poor and all remember wonderful childhoods.
Mom was a very strong woman. Although she probably wouldn’t agree with that, she was able to overcome some very difficult times and still able to keep her sense of humor and sharp wit.
The loss of dad her partner for almost 60 years was devastating for her. We were all very worried that it would be the end of her as well, but she struggled on and even though she missed him right up to her last days, she kept going. I used to call her a tough old bird, she would just smile and say “yes girl, well what else can you do”!
The loss of three of her children was a huge blow. First Lucy, then Rita and then Gerry (Sach) who was her comfort in the years after dad’s death, really slowed her down. She was now in her late 80s and had to try and live alone.
Not in the best of health yet she summoned her strength once again and made the decision to live by herself in her own home for as long as she could. We as a family were worried about her being alone but there was no changing her mind when she decided. (maybe a little bit of stubborn in there). Another devastating blow came in 2016 with the loss of her first-born son, Jim. Still she soldiered on!
She stayed by herself for as long as her health allowed until it was time to have extra help during the day and some home care was arranged to help her with her daily chores. It was very hard for her to sit aside and have someone else do her housework and cooking. Many a time she would just get up and lend a hand. She always made the dough balls and pudding for the many Sunday dinners we all had together. There was no keeping her down.
Though her body was failing her mind was sharp. She loved to play Scat with the family and almost every Saturday night when we all got together we played with her. She won many a game and beat us all. She loved her puzzle books and her knitting. When her fingers go to sore from gout and arthritis she had to teach herself how to knit using a different way, but she never gave up. When her eyes got tired from reading the puzzle books she would knit and if her hands got sore from knitting she would go back to the books. Again, tough old bird, I say!!
We all felt the love she had for each and every one of us. There was never a visit without a hug and kiss and “I love you” and of course “good night and God bless you” if you called in the evening.
A warm, loving, tough, strong, witty, woman who raised 13 grateful children in very tough times, who traveled only twice outside this province, had only a book 5 education, leaves a wonderful legacy to the world.
She bore 13 children who gave her grandchildren and great, great grandchildren. Children who have travelled the world, studied and have jobs that protect our society and yet more children to come who will do God knows what to help this world and make a difference. One woman from a small harbour in NL born in 1922 has had an immense effect on the world and through her descendants she will continue to do so long after she is gone.
She will be remembered for the love she gave, the strength she gave us, the memories that we have, the life that we have. A part of her will go on with all of us. She will never be forgotten.
