Mary Holloran

Mary was born and raised in Darlington, County Durham, England to James and Florence Shutt. She was the youngest of 4 daughters: Muriel Elizabeth, Joyce, and Irene who were wonderful sisters who helped shoulder the difficult times that growing up during the war brought; gas masks, food rationing, black out windows, hiding under the stairs when the air raids went off, etc. They lived in a 2 bedroom row house and shared one of the bedrooms, which had 2 ¾ size beds which made snuggling a necessity. Their close proximity brought closeness to them that they still cherish today. They had many happy memories playing on the beach where the girls learned to swim in the North Sea. This toughened Mary who became immune to the cold when years later she would swim with her grandkids in the cold Oregon coast and Shuswap Lake with her son. She loved the water!!

She lost her beloved sister, Muriel, to Tuberculosis when Mary was 13. Mary was a witness to her mother’s tender care and this gave Mary a blueprint of how to love and serve others. She followed in her footsteps and had a tenderness for others, especially those who had difficult things to overcome. Because of this she was always willing to show up and help others. Her children cherish her wonderful example of charity, love and service. Mary touched many lives in her ability to reach out to help others. She never met a stranger who didn’t become a friend, sometimes life long friends.

Mary met her husband at age 17 at her sister Irene’s 21st birthday party when they played Postman’s Knock. Denis arranged to match all of Mary’s cards; which allowed him to have exclusive kissing rights in the hall. She married Denis in 1956 and immigrated to Northern Alberta where she lived in a small travel trailer with their dog, “Tony”, where Denis worked Seismic. They had Denis Michael Jr. and Elizabeth Irene in Grande Prairie. Mary returned to Darlington for the birth of Randy Stuart for an extended stay. Denis made it back to England, the day he was born. They then relocated to Calgary, where Jillian was born and raised their family and has lived ever since.

Mary was a devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served faithfully in many capacities including Relief Society, Primary and Girls' Camp among others. She especially loved the youth in the ward and they flocked to her as well!!!

She spent many years in retail working at The Bay, Woodwards and Zellers (where she enjoyed having her grandchildren come help straighten the shoes.)

Mary learned to knit at age 4, and would have knitting races with her sister to see who could knit the fastest. She was a master knitter and seamstress and many of us have been blessed to enjoy her creations.

Mary’s greatest joy was her family. She was proud of her children, but especially loved her grandchildren and great grandchildren who have memories with Nana making cookies, jumping on the trampoline, tubing behind a boat (where she had been banned in recent years because we couldn’t get her back in the boat), hiking, teaching them to knit, story time, sleeping in their beds with them and so many others. They were all enthralled with her ability to take her teeth out, especially the little ones, who were seeing it for the first time.

Mary enjoyed spending time at Shuswap with Stuart and spent many happy hours there in the water up until last week. She endeared herself to all of Stuart’s friends and neighbours. She even had a special chair just for her sitting on the dock like the queen she was!!

Mary was diagnosed with breast cancer 2 years ago, and faced that with grace and courage with the challenges that came with it. We appreciate those special healthcare workers who tenderly cared for Mum.

She will be eagerly received in heaven by her husband, Denis, and Son Denis Jr. and her parents and sisters, Muriel and Joyce

She is survived by her children: Elizabeth Wright (Tom)

Brandon ((Whitney) Ryan, Lily and Parker; Bryan (Heather) T.J., Summer, Wake and Scottie; Krisitin Douglas (Kaden) Emery, Amelia, Walker and Quincy; Kaitlyn Nye (Brad) Cooper, Olivia and Finley

Stuart Holloran

Jillian Gardner (Derek) Shelby, Coby (Kylee) Lucy; Abigail, Maggie (Jace); Ellie, Blakely and Grady

And her beloved sister Irene Wall as well as many nephews and nieces.

We are thankful to her ward family and local friends who have lovingly stepped in to fill in when her family couldn’t be here. We love you for that. We are so appreciative of all your service to our mom.

Thank you to those who have reached out through messages, phone calls or in person to mourn with us and remind us of the good our mom did.

May Mary’s legacy remind us to reach out to serve those in need with kindness!!

A viewing will be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Coach Hill Chapel, 996 Strathcona Drive SW on Tuesday, August 5 from 7:00 to 9:00 pm.

A celebration of her life will be held on Wednesday, August 6 at 11:00 am at the same location with a viewing beginning at 10:00 am.

A tribute that eloquently says what is in our hearts by Arianna Kane:

In Loving Memory of Mary Holloran

Sunrise: JULY 23rd 1936–

Sunset: July 30th 2025

Heaven got a little brighter when one of its finest, friendliest souls came home on July 30th. Mary’s essence was a generator of joy that seemed to have no other purpose than to radiate it into every room, relationship or home made dinner roll. Her life was a tapestry as beautiful and intricate a mix of grace, grit, God and goodness, as the patchwork quilts she poured into for people.

To know her was to know love in its purest form. Gentle and sincere, abundant and overflowing, and most of all without expectation because she knew she could love anyone enough for the both of them.

Mary had the kindest childlike way and wonder for life, for her Family and her Faith. She saw the beauty in people and the world around her. She didn’t know the word stranger and would greet any and all with a smile and something to say, as though she had never forgotten that they were a Child of God just like her.

The women closest to Jesus were named Mary, and it’s so fitting and no wonder it was her name too.

Mary’s love of God and the Savior didn’t need to be eloquently said because it was evidently seen.

Her hands were never still—always baking something warm, sewing something sentimental, or mending a hem or heart with the kind of care only love can stitch. Her home was the kind that smelled of fresh bread and unconditional love.

Her sewing room was her haven of fabric, faith, patchwork and prayer.

She lived for the duty of love and the joy of giving. She believed in goodness and embodied gratitude so full that you couldn’t help but catch the contagion in her presence.

She was a devoted daughter, sister, wife, a loving mother, grandmother, great grandmother and deeply cherished friend that made everyone feel like her favourite whenever you came around.

Her legacy isn’t one of grand achievements, but the powerful example that ‘small and simple things are great things brought to pass’.

She sewed thousands of things in the giving of her gifts,, but even more the miracle, she sowed seeds. Seeds of all the things that aren’t things that will grow forever in those touched by her love, her laughter and the twinkle in her eye that will never die.

To love and be loved.

‘Well done thy good and faithful servant’.