Mary Creedon

Mary was born in Cork to Denis and Eileen O’Connell in 1947, and would ultimately be the eldest of six siblings. After attending St Aloysius Secondary School, she trained as a nurse in the South Infirmary Hospital. She and Kerry were married in 1970, and had Sarah and Morna before moving to Vancouver in 1973, where Kate was born.

Mary was a fiercely loving mother, an extraordinarily kind and prolific volunteer, a builder of community, a woman of faith, an exceptionally open-armed and hospitable host, and the world’s best baker of chocolate chip cookies.

On leaving Ireland, Mary’s father encouraged her to educate her children in the Catholic faith and school system. Her children benefited enormously from this advice, and each of the communities they were a part of – Cloverdale Catholic School, Holy Trinity School, Saint Anthony’s School, and Little Flower Academy – benefited from Mary’s generous and active engagement.

She was a stalwart in Saint Anthony’s Parish in West Vancouver, where she devoted herself to all aspects of parish life, always seeking out opportunities to help and minister to others. One of the hallmarks of her generous spirit, there and elsewhere, was how much she did quietly and in private, without seeking attention or adulation.

One of the things that gave Mary a great deal of joy was her community of Irish friends in Vancouver. She was a godmother to so many – the first to want to welcome new arrivals, give them a meal, a drink, and a bed. She loved bringing people together and created an extended family by her warm and generous heart.

Mary had huge affection for her brothers and sisters; Lall and Kieran, who predeceased her, and Geraldine, Conor, and Declan. She was loved and will be remembered fondly by her nieces, nephews, and cousins. She adored, and was adored by, her grandchildren, Deirdre, Tessa, Ronan, and Claire.

A Funeral Mass will be held at Saint Anthony's Catholic Church in West Vancouver on Thursday, May 1 at 11am. A livestream of the service will be available https://www.legacystreaming.com/dignity-west-vancouver/

A reception to celebrate Mary’s life will follow at Capilano Golf & Country Club.

In lieu of flowers, the family would be grateful for donations to the Saint Anthony’s School Inclusive Playground project at www.sasplayground.ca.