Grainne Brigid Hurley

Grainne Brigid Hurley, beloved wife of Donal Hurley, was born in Maugheraboy, Sligo, Ireland on February 2, 1935. Grainne passed away peacefully on Thursday, September 8, 2016 with Donal at her side, at Royal University Hospital, Saskatoon, after a long and valiant battle with Parkinson’s Disease. She was the fifth child of Martin and Elizabeth Hession. She was educated at the Ursiline Convent School, Sligo and went on to University College, Galway, graduating with a Commerce Degree. She was also very interested and gifted in languages. Grainne was fluent in Irish, Spanish, Italian and French. Grainne worked with Aer Lingus [Irish Airlines] from 1959 to 1966. During this career she lived and worked in Dublin, London, Rome and New York. Grainne had many amazing experiences during this time. While in Rome, she was part of a group who had a personal audience with the Pope. In New York on two occasions, she marched in the leading group of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. In 1965, she met Donal Hurley and they married on August 11, 1966. A two year honeymoon in Saskatchewan stretched out for fifty years. Grainne and Donal had three sons, Sean, wife Barbara (Waltz), children Liam and Aine; Brian, wife Elizabeth (Leszczynski), children John, Catriona, Luke and Mary; and Eamon, wife Sydelle (Capes), children Senan, Asiling and Conor. During her first year in Saskatchewan, Grainne taught kindergarten for students from Little Pine and Poundmaker Reservations in the Paynton Elementary School. She retired after

this and stayed at home to raise her boys until they had almost completed elementary school, then she returned to work at The Bay. She loved her fellow workers, her customers and the clothes she sold in the Mirror Room. Grainne was a great people person. She was active in the Eastview Community Association and a member of the Holy Spirit Parish Catholic Women’s League. Grainne took great joy in providing her baking for many special occasions of friends and family. After being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, Grainne was an active presence in the Saskatoon Parkinson's support group. She was the Honorary Chairperson of the Saskatoon Parkinson’s Superwalk in 2011. She fought Parkinson’s with every effort that she could and now her fight is over and she is at peace. As a child, she was a Child of Mary and now she is united with her Earthly Mother and her Heavenly Mother for all eternity. Grainne will be

dearly missed, and always remembered for her caring and love, by Donal, her boys and all of her grandchildren, each of whom is forever blessed by the gift of her life.Arrangements under the direction of Acadia-McKague's Funeral Centre, Saskatoon, SK.