Obituary of Mary Whalen

With deep sadness, we announce the passing of our mother, Mary Morrissey-Whalen, at the Carbonear General Hospital on Saturday, November 15, 2025 at age 81.

While Mom’s passing came very suddenly, she was surrounded and comforted in her final minutes by so many she loved as she slipped peacefully into a well-deserved rest after hearing the voices of all her children.

Born in July 1944, mom was a trailblazer for strong, independent women, leaving Southside after completing high school to pursue training in St. John’s as a Registered Nursing Assistant (RNA). She loved living in the city and shopping the stores downtown buying fashionable clothing for herself and treats for her young siblings still at home.

Mom’s career as an RNA, which spanned more than 30 years, brought her to work in Grand Falls, the Janeway Children’s Hospital, and the Harbour Lodge Nursing Home, where she was not only a well-respected colleague, but a friend who brought fun and laughter to the workplace and a life full of lasting memories for her and her beloved coworkers.

She was a working single mother to her twin baby boys at a time when career women or single parenting was almost unheard of, but she forged through working hard to support her boys and provide help to her mother and siblings at home as well.

In 1971, she and our dad married, blending their families, and expanding on it into the family forest we love and cherish today.

She will be remembered as one of a long line of very strong, fiercely independent women who worked hard to build her life. Her compassion towards so many in our community will be long remembered, often dropping everything to go when help was needed. She was strong-willed and had a spite that could stop you in your tracks, but mostly she was known for being full of fun and game for anything.

Remembering her beautiful life are her sons Tony, Joe (Carrie) and Jimmy (Lisa) all of Ontario,  her daughter Sharon (Roger Reeves), step-son Ted (Helen) and daughter-in-law Linda all of Hr. Grace; her and dad’s grandchildren Stephen (Cathy), Theresa (Perry Bryant), Craig (Jennifer), Ted (Renee), Krista (Gerard Delaney), Matthew (Tara), Cathy (Kirk Newhook), Kelsey, Tanner (Emma Voll) James Reeves (Aleigha Gifford), Riley Reeves (Abby Rumboldt), and Paige (Alex Manchisi), and a large number of great-grandchildren.

Also leaving to mourn their sister are her siblings Pat (Norma Mouland), Tom (Brenda), John (Karen), Barbara (Carl Bishop) and Michelle along with a large circle of nieces and nephews, including special niece Paulette who made sure to always visit and check in.

Mom shared a special life-long friendship with her sister-in-law Mary (Malc) Whalen, who will dearly miss their daily calls. She also leaves to mourn many special nieces and nephews on the Whalen side, especially Mary and Madonna who did so much for her.

Mom built many friendships throughout her life, all of which were so special to her, but we would be remiss not to mention her wonderful neighbours Lillian, Billy and Evan Cooper, who were always just a call or shout away and kept her in a full supply of fresh eggs, and Phyllis Newman, who has become like family to us.

Mom’s recent life was greatly blessed by her treasured home support workers, especially Betty Sheppard, Marchell Pike and Della Sheppard who were our angels in helping mom care for herself.

A heartfelt thank you to the staff of the 7^th floor of Carbonear General, especially nurses Melissa, Sam and Allie, who did their very best to make mom’s stay there as comfortable as possible. And to her roommate Rose Dwyer whom she enjoyed sharing Elvis dance parties with in the evenings.

Mom was pre-deceased by her father, Thomas Morrissey, a veteran of the British Navy, in 1944, when she was just shy of two months old, our dad, James Whalen in 1996, her step-son Steve in 2012, her mother Ella Morrissey in 2015, her partner Augustine Clarke and her brother Don (Jean) both in 2022. She was also predeceased by her grandfather Michael Morrissey, a veteran of World War One and a member of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment Blue Puttees, her grandmother Elizabeth (Parr), and grandparents Arthur and Lucinda (Hussey) Parsons.

Visitation at Noel’s Funeral Home, Harvey Street, Harbour Grace on Tuesday, November 18 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.

Funeral Mass to take place on Friday, November 21 at 11:00 a.m. from St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church, Riverhead, Harbour Grace.

Interment in the Roman Catholic Cemetery, Harbour Grace.

As an expression of sympathy, flowers gratefully accepted or donation in her memory may be made to the Mary Whalen Memorial Fund, c/o Noel’s Funeral Home, 106 Water Street, Carbonear, NL, A1Y 1A9.