MARY KATHLEEN WILKINS

It is with great sorrow that the family of Mary Kathleen Sheehy Wilkins announces her sudden passing on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2009.
Mary was born May 7, 1938 in Cass Lake, Mn., the youngest daughter of Emmett and Elizabeth Sheehy.
Although born in the U.S., Mary spent the majority of her life in Canada, but proudly retained her U.S. citizenship.
Mary’s greatest joy was her family; she enjoyed time spent visiting with her children, and delighted in her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She was an avid “garage sale diva” and could be counted on to “score a bargain” at garage sales every weekend. She also played golf, bridge, and especially loved her “late night” card games with her close friends.
She was fortunate to have travelled throughout the U.S. and to Europe several times, touring Italy, Portugal, Turkey, Greece, Spain, France, England, Ireland, and Scotland.
Mary was a very active member of the Dryden community and drew much satisfaction from being involved in countless local charities. She was past president of the Catholic Women’s League and also had served on the Diocesan Council.
She spent years volunteering for the Telecare crisis line and the Red Cross, and she helped create the Mayor’s Committee for Substance Abuse. She also was a master Toastmaster, and proudly served on St. Joseph’s School Council.
In recent years, Mary volunteered at Princess Court, was a hospital greeter, and was active in social justice projects with the Outreach Committee at the church.
Mary was proud to be the “Queen” of the local Red Hat Society-Strawberry Mousse Delights, and thoroughly enjoyed the fun and camaraderie with the ladies in that group.
She also became a grandma to many, volunteering to read weekly with Grade 2 students at St. Joseph’s School.
Left to mourn are Mary’s five children, Debbie (Martin) MacKinnon of Dryden, Ont., Dori (Doug) Beaushene of Balmertown, Ont., Dawn Wilkins (Doug Giles) of White Rock, B.C., and Daniel Wilkins and Patty (Bill) Wrolstad, all of Dryden, Ont.
She will be greatly missed by her grandchildren, Neil and Melissa MacKinnon, Nicole (Jamie) Kristoff, Bryan Beaushene, Clancy and Molly Doherty, Emma Wilkins, and Andrew, Liam, Maryn, and Abram Wrolstad; and her precious great-granddaughters, Mckenna and Callie Kristoff.
Also surviving are her brother, Mike Sheehy, and sister, Patricia MacInnis, both of the United States. Many nieces and nephews also survive.
Mary was predeceased by her husband, Thomas, in 2004; sister, Geraldine Kimball, and brother, Tom Sheehy; as well as her mother and father.
Visitation was held Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009 from 4-8 p.m. at the Dryden Community Funeral Home, with prayer service at 7 p.m.
A funeral Mass to celebrate Mary’s life was held Friday, Oct. 2, 2009 at 10 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church in Dryden, with Fr. Alan Campeau celebrating the Eucharist.
The pallbearers were Neil MacKinnon, Bryan Beaushene, Clancy Doherty, Andrew Wrolstad, Mark Wilkins, and Gary Doherty.
The honourary pallbearers were Rene Taylor, Mary-Lou Leonzio, George and Evelyn Malyk, Joyce and John Popien, and Erna Skillen.
If friends should desire, in memoriam donations may be made to the CT Scan Fund or a charity of your choice c/o the Dryden Community Funeral Home, 249 Grand Trunk Ave., Dryden, Ont., P8N 2X3.