There were no words to describe the sense of loss the people of Athleague and the surrounds, along with many more in Winnipeg, Canada, felt when the news of the passing of Mary McConn Bessette came through recently. Peacefully surrounded by her loving family, Mary passed away at the Riverview Health Centre (Canada) on Monday, April 10th, following a courageous three year battle with cancer. Described by one friend as a loving, responsive, bubbly, effervescent, giving, funny, optimistic and brave person, Mary’s sad passing has certainly left a vast void in many lives.
Born in Athleague, Mary — having worked in the ESB in Roscommon — emigrated to Canada in 1969 to work as a lay missionary with the Legion of Mary in The Pas, MB, before moving in 1971 to Winnipeg, where she worked for a number of years in real estate. She later joined the Toronto Dominion Bank. Married to Gerry Bessette in 1975, Mary was a loving wife and devoted mother of two. Yet, between her career and her family, Mary still made time for community involvement, spending many years on the executive of the Irish Association of Manitoba, becoming its first female president from 1992 to 1994. Indeed, in the litany of Mary’s life, it is amazing to discover the number of firsts or near firsts she accomplished in a relatively short time. First child born in the McConn family, first to leave home to go to boarding school, first to leave Ireland, one of the first to come to Manitoba as a lay missionary for the Legion of Mary. She was also one of the first women to take her real estate license, the first Queen of the Irish Pavilion, one of the first members of the Irish Association of Manitoba, and, of course, the first lady elected as President of the Irish Association.
True to say, Mary represented so many different things to so many different people. To all though, her determination, her strength, and her courage were contagious. As was her laughter and humour, which formed an integral part of Mary’s life. No doubt, Mary was a remarkable woman. Following the untimely and tragic death of her son Damien, Mary became involved and actively participated in a group known as Victims of Homicide. At a later date, she met with her son’s killer and in the greatest single act of courage, she found it within her heart to forgive the young man. It was her husband Gerry’s concern that his child’s name might be forgotten that led to the creation of the Damien Bessette Scholarship Fund. Over 70 children in the Irish community have received scholarships with Mary McConn acting as a trustee since the inception of the fund, while each year, in happier surroundings, the champion of the organised golf tournament receives the Damien Bessette Trophy, donated by the Bessette family. Renowned for her generosity, her practical intelligence, her keen interest in people and famous hospitality, Mary was a person who loved life and lived it to the full until her untimely death. As one friend remarked: “Life won’t be the same without her, but I know that the memory of Mary McConn Bessette will in the future sustain us during good and bad times. She is captured in our hearts and in our minds and we owe it to her, but most importantly to ourselves, that we live our lives with truth, conviction, grace, dignity, and the courage she inspired in all of us.” Mary is predeceased by her son Damien and her father Charlie. Left to mourn her passing are her loving husband Gerry, her son Neil, her daughter-in-law Michelle, her mother Kathleen McConn, her sisters Catherine and Theresa, her brothers Owen, Cathal, David, Dermot and Robert, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews, together with a wide circle of friends in Ireland and Canada. Removal took place at E.J. Coutu Funeral Chapel on Wednesday, April 12, with the Funeral Mass, a celebration of Mary’s life, was held at St. Timothy Roman Catholic Church, Winnipeg the following day. Burial afterwards was at St. Boniface Cemetery. The family would like to thank all the staff at Cancer Care, St. Boniface Hospital and in particular Dr. Lotocki, as well as the caring staff at Riverview Health Centre.
Roscommon Herald
