Mary Fitzpatrick Cameron Oeland

Mary Fitzpatrick Cameron Oeland died peacefully on the 31st of May 2011, at The Hallmark, where she led an active life for over 25 years. She was 97. She will be remembered for her beautiful smile, her kindness, her intense commitment to family and her promotion of education, especially language acquisition.

Mary was from Miles City, Montana, the first in an Irish family to be born in the U.S. After moving to Southern California, graduating from Santa Ana Junior College and becoming first violinist in the Santa Ana City Orchestra, Mary worked for the advertising firm of Foote, Cone and Belding. Later, she married Donald Main Cameron and shortly after the War moved to Panama City, Panama, where her husband had accepted a management position with Esso Standard Oil Co. Subsequently, they moved to San Juan, Puerto Rico and Havana, Cuba, raising two children. When her husband died, Mary taught English in Havana (at Ruston Academy) and opened a shop in the Havana Hilton Hotel specializing in Caribbean folk and colonial art. Just ahead of the Cuban Revolution, she took her children to New York City and went to work for Esso Chemical, which became Exxon Chemical. When Exxon moved to Houston, she happily moved with the team and quickly made it her home. She retired from the company after 27 years, as the Corporate Secretary of the Latin American Division. After retirement she married Raymond W. Oeland and shared her love of travel with him. They collaborated to establish a language laboratory at his alma mater, Davidson College, as well as a scholarship for students studying abroad. She became a member of the Davidson Board of Visitors. In her retirement she enjoyed life at the Hallmark, composing a family history, and entertaining family and friends at the Houston Country Club as well as at the "fishing camp" on Copano Bay.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Raymond W. Oeland; and is loved and greatly missed by her family, including her son, Douglas Cameron and his wife, Edith Guay of Collegeville, PA; her daughter, Joan Treacy and her husband, Michael of Miami, FL; and her step daughter, Marianne Oeland McCall and her husband Sterling of Houston. She is also missed by five grandchildren, Rima Bowser of Harrisburg, PA, Maya Houston and her husband, George of Houston, Sara Armstrong of Los Angeles, CA, Alicia Cameron Lesniac and her husband, Eric of Miami, FL, and David Armstrong of Miami, FL.; and five great grandchildren, Celia Houston, Cameron Bowser, Paul Houston, Charles Bowser III, and Sabina Houston. The family is grateful to The Hallmark, especially Evelyn, Kerensa, Janie and Campa for their loving care.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from two until four o’clock in the afternoon on Sunday, the 19th of June, in the Parlor of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.

The Mass of Christian Burial is to be celebrated at ten o’clock in the morning on Monday, the 20th of June, at St. Michael Catholic Church, 1801 Sage Road in Houston, where the Rev. Christopher Nguyen, Parochial Vicar, is to serve as the celebrant.

The Rite of Committal will follow, via an escorted cortege, at Glenwood Cemetery in Houston.

Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception at The Hallmark, 4718 Hallmark Drive in Houston.

In lieu of customary remembrances, donations in memory of Mary may be directed to the Catholic Relief Services, 228 W. Lexington St., Baltimore, MD, 21201-3443; or to the St. Michael Catholic School Language Program, 1801 Sage Rd., Houston, TX, 77056.