She died peacefully at home with her husband, Jim, by her side. She was 71.
Mary was born to John and Helen McEntee on March 2, 1948 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
She was a 1970 graduate of the University of Santa Clara and received her Master’s Degree from Regis University in Denver, Colorado in 1990.
She was married on December 15, 1974 to James McGill an Instructor at the University of Dallas. They had a loving marriage and shared a common vocation in religious education for over forty-four years. Jim and Mary were best friends who loved happy hour, movies, Thanksgiving and New Mexico.
Mary was a lifelong religious educator in the Catholic Church working in parishes, dioceses and high schools in California, Kansas, Louisiana and Texas. She was well known for her ability to recruit, train and inspire volunteer teachers. She was a wonderful speaker, illustrator and writer having published many articles and one book: Stories to Invite Faith Sharing. She loved to host holiday dinners for friends and was known to be kind to children and small animals. Her gentle, loving and joyful spirit will be missed by all who knew her.
Although Mary’s mother died when Mary was sixteen, she had other mothers (B.J. Montag, Jamie Knirck, Eileen Adler, Lucia Sutton, Margaret Daus). Although Mary had no biological sisters, she had other sisters (Susan Herlitz, Midge Tripp, Bonnie Schwartz, Jeanne Campbell, Sue Grose and many others). Although Mary had no children of her own, she had other children (Stephen, Karen and Sarah Debacker, Theresa, Anthony and Christopher Blanton, Rebecca and Rachel Schofield, John Schmisek and Clare Winter).
Among her lifelong good friends who will miss her are David and Paula Lyon, Frank and Katherine DeBacker, Gino and Celia Sartor. Charlie and Inge Procner, Brian and Marnie Schmisek, and Gregoria Torres.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents John and Helen McEntee. She is survived by her loving and devoted husband James McGill as well as her brothers and their spouses: John and Marie McEntee of Boulder Creek, California; Terry and Judith McEntee of Lisbon, Portugal; Timothy and Debra McEntee of Brentwood, California; Brian McEntee and Chuck Richardson of Altadena, California; Keven and Marie McEntee of Pleasanton, California; cousin Shannon McEntee of Palo Alto, California; step-sister Susan Herlitz of San Jose, California; step-brother Scott and Meong Dahlquist of Elk Grove, California and numerous nephews and nieces along with a host of other family members and friends.
Profound gratitude is extended to Jenna Hyland and Lily D’agostino of New Hope Hospice Care who lovingly cared for Mary in her final months.
The funeral vigil prayer service for Mary McGill will be held at 7:00 PM on Friday, May 10, 2019.
The funeral Mass will be celebrated for Mary at 10:00 AM on Saturday, May 11, 2019 with a reception following.
Both services will be at the Church of the Incarnation located on the campus of the University of Dallas, 1845 East Northgate Dr., Irving, Texas.
In Mary’s memory, please consider a donation to the University of Santa Clara, to the Alzheimer’s Association or to Bristol Foundation (formerly New Hope Hospice Care), 115 Park Place Blvd., Suite 100, Waxahachie, TX 75165.
Cremation Rites will be accorded.
Calvary Hill Funeral Home in Dallas, Texas has charge of arrangements.
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