Mary Catherine O'Hara Carew

A rosary for Mary will be held Thursday, January 18, 2024 at 9:00 am, followed by a funeral mass at 10:00 am and a reception to follow at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, 6455 Brook Park Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80918.

Mary Catherine O’Hara Carew was born September 15, 1931 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Dr. John O’Hara and Florence (Mory) O’Hara. She graduated from Bay View High School. Mary received an Associate’s degree from Stephens College and a Bachelor’s degree from University of Missouri, Columbia. Mary also attended Lake Forest and Alverno Colleges. She later got her Master’s degree in special education from UCCS. She continued her education after retiring from teaching, taking classes at Pikes Peak college in Archeology and Astronomy.

Mary was a dedicated mother who raised three children. She participated in 4 wheel drive club events and camping weekends with her family. She kept a family focus after her divorce and always welcomed others to family meals and holidays. As a single mother, Mary shared her love of Colorado by continuing to camp in the mountains with her kids.

She went back to work and put herself through school while raising three kids. Mary taught Special Education at Calhan and Lewis Palmer High Schools where she made friends with fellow staff and was passionate about ensuring each of her students reached their potential.

Mary was a devout Catholic. She made Cursillo in 1982 and continued to work Cursillos, including giving a talk during a few of them. She was a founding member of St. Patrick’s church where she helped with and then led the Parish Life Committee which made her a member of the Parish Council. She also was a eucharistic minister, helped with donuts and coffee, tutored older kids who had not made their First Communion, and started a singles group. Mary was named volunteer of the year. When she moved to Monument, she joined St. Peter’s and was an usher and EM at that parish.

Mary was a lifelong horse lover. She began taking lessons with friends in her neighborhood at eight years old. She got her first horse in 8th grade. She showed Saddlebred and Standardbred horses in 3-gaited, 5-gaited and carriage classes. She shared her love of horses with her children who all took lessons in Wisconsin and showed in 4H and local shows in Colorado. Mary was a great horse show mom, always helping with show prep, trailering to shows and practices and as a show groom. After her children graduated, Mary focused on trail riding with Cavalier Trail Riding club where she was named most valuable member. She had many horse friends that she camped and trail rode with. She even competed in competitive trail rides. As grandchildren were added to her family, she shared her love of horses with them, from lessons in her yard to showing at local shows and trail riding.

Mary also had an enduring love of dogs. She added cats to her animal family starting with a stray that adopted her at her home in Monument. She enjoyed the company of indoor cats through her retirement.

Mary bought land in Monument and had a barn and home built. She enjoyed being able to ride her horses to the Monument Preserve from her house and rode there frequently. Mary soon got involved in the establishment of the Friends of the Monument Preserve. She was an active member working with the archeologist and gaining 501c3 status.

When Mary moved to Falcon, she joined the Falcon seniors group for exercise classes, lunches and even played in the Kazoo band for a 4th of July celebration. Mary was very proud of her Irish heritage and celebrated St.Patrick’s day at church and with friends and family.

Mary lived a very full life focused on God, family, friends and animals filled with love and grace.

Mary is survived by her children; Patty Parrett, Jim (Lori) Carew, Karen (Ralph)Popham; grandchildren Sarah(Brian) Levesque, Emily(Brittni) Apodaca, Reilly Carew and Alex Carew. She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Florence O’Hara, her brother John O’Hara and her son-in-law, Michael Parrett.

In Lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Pikes Peak Hospice, St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Friends of Monument Preserve(FOMP.org)