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Mary Anne (Maureen) Crilly

Posted By Pacific Coast Cremation On August 16, 2016 @ 12:21 pm In Obituaries | 19 Condolences

It is with great sadness and heartfelt loss we announce the passing of Maureen Crilly (nee Kelleher) this past Sunday night (August 14) at the age of 74 after a very brief bout with cancer.  Maureen was born and raised on the family farm in Dangan, Quin, Co. Clare, Ireland with her siblings Pat (Kelleher), Josie (Tuohy) and Biddy (Considine).  It was there that she learned the love of athletics, horse riding, intellectual pursuits and all things literary from her parents (Michael/Anne) and her close relatives.

Her participation in and love of Camogie (women’s hurling) as a youth prepared her well for her love of soccer and hockey in Canada.  A true sports fanatic when her team was playing she remained a loyal supporter of all of the Clare teams, the Dave Keon era of Toronto Maple Leafs as well as to her recent love, the Vancouver Canucks.  Maureen’s love of Irish literature went from Behan to Yeats and could quote something relevant when asked about almost any topic.  More impressively, often she could provide the quote to you in Gaelic and promoted it being spoken as often as she could. She loved the Gaelic language. This love of Ireland and literature took her to Dublin for her studies where she met her husband, Alfred.  Both were in Dublin for education but met each other at a dance at the Irish Club. They spent many a week studying together and many a weekend out on the town nurturing each other and building the foundations for a lifelong romance. Their connection was immediate and after a brief stint apart she followed him to Canada and stayed partners for 49 strong years.  In her years Maureen made many lifelong friends and contributed greatly to her community.  Whether doing work for the Legion of Mary in her youth or collecting for the foreign missions in Ireland, volunteering and teaching at multiple libraries in Ireland and Canada (Guelph, Sarnia and Charlottetown), coaching multiple youth soccer teams in Markham, teaching English and Math to many in Midland or helping the elderly in Calgary, Red Deer and Victoria, Maureen’s efforts always put a smile on people’s faces and she enjoyed these pursuits greatly.

Recent years saw Maureen travel back to Ireland and Portugal from Canada to rekindle her Irish roots and establish new roots in Portugal with her son Alfie to start a wildlife and garden preserve for future generations to enjoy.  There, she especially loved feeding the Burro Larry and watching the sunsets in Portugal and these visits provided her with much enjoyment. In Ireland, she was able to meet the next generation of nieces and nephews and revisit old relationships that meant the world to her.  She enjoyed sharing her love of books with her grandkids Jack and Ryan in West Vancouver and they repaid her with sketches that made her smile.  Maureen made great friends everywhere she went and especially enjoyed her connections made in PEI, Midland and throughout Ontario, Calgary and Victoria. She will be missed by all who knew her – Codladh samh.

Maureen is survived by her husband, Alfred; sons David (Erica), Alfie and grandsons Jack and Ryan; Brother Pat Kelleher (Paul and Louise and their respective families),  Sisters Josie Tuohy (Martina, Patrice, Jo-anne and Michael and their respective families) and Biddy Considine (Noel, Eammon, Peter, Anthony, Anne Marie and their respective families), Brother-in-law Kieran Crilly, Sister-in-laws Nora Walsh (Tom, Niall, Conor, Sean and their respective families) and Maura Keenan (Donal, Mark, Gary, Shane, Ruth, Donal Jr. and their respective families) and Agnes Crilly (Kevin, Anthony, Sharon and their respective families).   A mass will be held in memory in Co. Clare and Co. Louth – www.rip.ie [1] for details and in Victoria, BC on Tuesday August 23 at St. Patrick’s church at 12pm. Please no flowers – donations to a food bank of your choice would be preferred. Maureen will be put to rest in Ireland at a private ceremony at a later date.

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Condolences for the family of “Mary Anne (Maureen) Crilly”

Condolence from Bill and Rose Raglin on August 16th, 2016 1:51 pm

Dear Alf and Family
Rose and I are so sorry to hear of Maureen’s passing.
We have fond memories of our times together. Laughter,humour and good company.
Your notice brought sadness. Our prayers and condolences are with you,Alf,at this difficult time.

Condolence from Alfred Crilly on August 20th, 2016 11:56 pm

Hi
Thanks for your prayers and more especially for the reminders of the good days. Those memories will always be there and I will always cherish your friendship. We are having the funeral mass on Tuesday. I am so lucky to have had my son David with me through the tough times. As a family we will take Maureen back to Ireland to her final resting place in Co Clare this will happen in early 2017. I had my hip operation and now waiting for a knee op expect that it should happen Oct or Nov. this is the determining factor as to when we will take Maureen home.
Love as always — Alf

Condolence from Brigitte Larsen on August 16th, 2016 8:17 pm

Dear Alfred and Family
How very sad to hear of Maureen’s passing. Please know that my thoughts are with you and your family at this very difficult time.

Condolence from Alfred Crilly on August 21st, 2016 1:08 am

Thanks for your kind words I really appreciate your efforts in organising the bus to allow some of the residents the opportunity to pay their last respects to Maureen. After the funeral service we will take her ashes to her final resting place in Co Clare.
Sorry to learn that your father has passed. He was a real gentleman and I know that you spent a lot of time with him these last memories of your Dad will always be with you and I am sure you will cherish the time you had with him.
Love as always — Alf

Condolence from Kev & Lynn McCaskill on August 16th, 2016 8:27 pm

Alf, We are so sorry to know of Maureen’s passing, and totally feeling sad for you and the boys. It is difficult to lose a loved one at any time, but to know how you both worked together for so many years, eliminating family and friends to look after others is the most difficult part of it. We so wished that you both could have had the time to re-cooperate from all the time you both sacrificed, but are also a little thankful that this last year you managed to share with your immediate family. We never know what’s around the corner, and we are all sharing your sorrow, as no one expected to see Maureen leaving us this soon. Our love & thoughts are with you. God Bless.

Condolence from Alfred Crilly on August 21st, 2016 1:25 am

These are difficult times and times of regrets of the missed opportunities – the things that could have been. Who would have thought that the Big C would beat us to that promised time together. I always appreciates our conversations and shared memories. Maureen was always positive that the “thing” could be beaten but unfortunately it was more aggressive than any of us suspected. We had great family support along the journey and in the end Maureen had a very peaceful passing . I will miss her dearly she was a great companion and soul mate. I believe that she can still hear our conversations and she will never be too far away from our whispered farewells.
love to you both– Alf

Condolence from Sheona, Jon, Henley, Keaton & Dempsey on August 17th, 2016 7:18 am

We are so sorry to hear of Maureen’s passing and are sending so much love out to you all at this challenging time.
We didn’t see her often, but when we did she always greeted us with a warm and welcome smile.
I remember fondly her looking at our youngest, then infant, son and commenting on how handsome he was and how much he resembled the (much older) actor Gordon Pinsent.
We will miss her.

Condolence from Alfred Crilly on August 21st, 2016 12:08 am

Thanks for your kind words. We are still in shock that Maureen passed so quickly. It is a shame that she will not be around to watch Jon, Henley and her grandsons Jack and Ryan grow up and make their way through life’s challenges.
We will have the funeral mass on Tuesday and at a later date we will take Maureen’s ashes back to her final resting place in Ireland.
Alf

Condolence from Janet and Eilleen on August 17th, 2016 10:22 am

Dear Alfred and family.
We were so sorry to hear of Maureen’s sudden passing She fought a very tough battle with this terrible disease. Our last visit a short time ago with the both of you, will be treasured forever. Our deepest sympathy, love and prayers for all of you at this very difficult time……

Condolence from Carla Purves on August 17th, 2016 11:22 am

Dear Alf, Dave and Alfie,

I’m so sorry for your loss. What a lovely write up, she touched so many lives and provided support and understanding to so many as she traveled around the world during her life. I’ll always remember Maureen’s smile and playful spirit. Her compassion and support for us all last Christmas was so appreciated and her love and attentiveness with Jack, Ryan and of course Mushu will be missed.
Big hugs to you all.

Condolence from Alfred Crilly on August 21st, 2016 12:21 am

Thanks Carla – It is a difficult time for myself but I would not be able to handle Maureen’s passing without the support of family. David was a tower of strength and he stepped up to the plate when needed. It was also a difficult time for Erica been left on her own to handle all on the domestic front.
Love — Alf

Condolence from Ken & Arlene Neal on August 18th, 2016 1:17 pm

Totally saddened by Maureens passing, a great loss of a fine spirit. Our thought and prayers are with you and “all” of your family and countless friends, at this very difficult time. She will be missed by so many. Hugs Alf

Condolence from Alfred Crilly on August 21st, 2016 12:55 am

We are also in shock I am still trying to process the suddenness of her passing . When she was diagnosed with cancer she took the Chemo treatment but was not able to continue because the nausea was too much.
We were lucky to have had Fr Stuart from St Patrick’s church help us through the rough patch. I am thankful for all the support we received from the nurses and doctors at RJH and the Hospice. My son David was a tower of strength without who’s support I would not have been able to deal with the loss. Maureen had a very peaceful passing . After the funeral on Tuesday we will take Maureen’s ashes back to her final resting place in Ireland
love to you both –Alf

Condolence from Ann Farrell on August 19th, 2016 2:57 pm

Please accept our condolences on the death of your beloved wife/mother Maureen. We have just celebrated Mass (a packed church) in Clooney together with Maureen’s siblings, nephews, nieces, neighbors and many friends including her old school pals. Her grand nieces and nephews presented gifts that represented aspects of her life – a red rose, a book, the crucifix, a framed photo and a poster showing her name. The celebrant was her neighbor and went to primary school with her. We are now listening to stories about Maureen in Joanne’s house over a cup of tea.

Condolence from Alfred Crilly on August 21st, 2016 12:40 am

It is great to know that people and talking fondly about Maureen . She was a great one for a cup of tea and she always said that I made the best cuppa. It is difficult to come to grips with the fact that she is no longer around she always said that she wanted to be the first to go and when that time came she did not want to be a burden to anyone. We will miss her dearly she will always be in my thoughts.
Thanks Ann for your kind words
Alf

Condolence from Irene Davies on August 20th, 2016 8:18 am

Dear. Alf,
Just read of Maureen’s death in the Globe & Mail. I am sure it’s a great loss to you. DUDLEY died in 2012 & I still miss him so much. I sent an email to Graham incase he missed it. You will be in my thoughts & prayers.Irene

Condolence from Alfred Crilly on August 21st, 2016 12:29 am

Hi Irene,
I am so sorry I did not know that Dudley passed. We have been away for so long now we lost touch with so many people. I share your pain of loss. I take comfort from the words of my priest ” Your wife will always be around when you are down just speak to her she will be listening ”
The funeral mass is on Tuesday and at a later date we will take her ashes back to Ireland to her final resting place in Co Clare.
Thanks for your thoughts and prayers. I will say a prayer for Dudley
Alf

Condolence from Brian Bastien on August 22nd, 2016 6:23 pm

My heartfelt condolences for your loss.

Condolence from Margaret Dobbin on September 14th, 2016 9:21 am

Alf I am so sorry to hear of Maureen’s passing I have many fond memories of you both. I lost Bobby to cancer in April after a brief illness so I know how hard it is for you at the present time we can only go one day at a time. We will always remember our loved ones

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