Obituary for Lona Marie Hanlon (Hickey)
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our mother, Lona Marie Hanlon (Hickey). She passed away at home on Thanksgiving Day, October 10, 2022 at the age of 76.
Mom showed great strength throughout her illness and while this last month in particular was very difficult, she continued to navigate it with grace and humour. She was intent on trying to make things easier on those of us around her.
Our father, William (Bill) Joseph Hanlon, predeceased Mom on November 21, 2020, after 52 years of marriage. Mom was also predeceased by her parents, Thomas and Evelyn (Brown) Hickey and left to mourn is her brother, Terry Brown and family.
Mom dearly loved the 3 of us children, our spouses and our children: Tracey and Scott Wagstaff and their son, Liam, who currently live in Abu Dhabi; Renee and Ryan Konotopsky and their children Nathan, Rachel and Claire who live in Calgary, Alberta, and David and Kim Hanlon and their daughter Nora who live here in Grand Falls-Windsor. Mom would often spend time sewing, quilting, cooking and baking for us - taking the time and giving attention to each person's favorites and preferences. She will always be remembered by us with great love.
Mom was a teacher through and through, compassionate, patient, and diligent, always putting in extra time and effort after school and evenings. She started her 29 year career in St. John's and then returned home to Grand Falls-Windsor to teach at St. Joseph's Academy and St. Francis Xavier Academy. Mom formed many close friendships with her fellow teachers, enjoying family events and other social outings together and she especially enjoyed time they all spent together at the curling rink.
Of course, the time spent at our cabin at New Bay Lake with family, friends, and all of the "cabin crowd" were Mom's favorite times. Mom always shopped for a crowd, having extra food and drink on hand and ready to host whether it was for an afternoon of cards, or a whole weekend of food, beach fires, stargazing and laughter.
Mom passed on October 10, Dad's Birthday and Thanksgiving Day. What we are choosing to focus on today and going forward is the thanksgiving of the day.
We are thankful for mom’s care givers - doctors, nurses, palliative team members, home care workers and an extra, extra special thank you with hugs to Kim Hanlon, Kim’s mom Brenda Cave, Aunt Barb Morey, Marie Hawkins and honorary Hanlon, Judy Cumby, for the love and compassion they provided, being respectful of Mom’s wishes/decisions through this process.
We are thankful for neighbours, friends and family (especially Bill and Donna Rideout, Ken and Pauline Butt, Dennis and Dorothy Fewer, Diane Griffin and Judy Kelly) who have shown Mom, and all of us, love and kindness with food and friendship. A special thank you to Race, Carolyn, Wendy, Peter and Rhonda Hanlon and families for the lifetime of shared music, laughter and love.
And we are most thankful for Mom. She has always been an amazing example of quiet strength and love. She has taught us the value of being a silent supporter and to help others, selflessly. She taught us that listening is more important than talking and yet she also taught us to find our own voice, so long as whatever the message, it is delivered with kindness. She has taught us a million other things that we will continue to learn from - we will miss her forever.
Due to COVID we were unable to gather and have a service for Dad and have chosen to now have a service and celebration for them both. A joint memorial mass will be held on Friday, October 21, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at the Roman Catholic Cathedral of Immaculate Conception. A reception will follow at the Royal Canadian Legion.
“Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none” – William Shakespeare
Mom showed great strength throughout her illness and while this last month in particular was very difficult, she continued to navigate it with grace and humour. She was intent on trying to make things easier on those of us around her.
Our father, William (Bill) Joseph Hanlon, predeceased Mom on November 21, 2020, after 52 years of marriage. Mom was also predeceased by her parents, Thomas and Evelyn (Brown) Hickey and left to mourn is her brother, Terry Brown and family.
Mom dearly loved the 3 of us children, our spouses and our children: Tracey and Scott Wagstaff and their son, Liam, who currently live in Abu Dhabi; Renee and Ryan Konotopsky and their children Nathan, Rachel and Claire who live in Calgary, Alberta, and David and Kim Hanlon and their daughter Nora who live here in Grand Falls-Windsor. Mom would often spend time sewing, quilting, cooking and baking for us - taking the time and giving attention to each person's favorites and preferences. She will always be remembered by us with great love.
Mom was a teacher through and through, compassionate, patient, and diligent, always putting in extra time and effort after school and evenings. She started her 29 year career in St. John's and then returned home to Grand Falls-Windsor to teach at St. Joseph's Academy and St. Francis Xavier Academy. Mom formed many close friendships with her fellow teachers, enjoying family events and other social outings together and she especially enjoyed time they all spent together at the curling rink.
Of course, the time spent at our cabin at New Bay Lake with family, friends, and all of the "cabin crowd" were Mom's favorite times. Mom always shopped for a crowd, having extra food and drink on hand and ready to host whether it was for an afternoon of cards, or a whole weekend of food, beach fires, stargazing and laughter.
Mom passed on October 10, Dad's Birthday and Thanksgiving Day. What we are choosing to focus on today and going forward is the thanksgiving of the day.
We are thankful for mom’s care givers - doctors, nurses, palliative team members, home care workers and an extra, extra special thank you with hugs to Kim Hanlon, Kim’s mom Brenda Cave, Aunt Barb Morey, Marie Hawkins and honorary Hanlon, Judy Cumby, for the love and compassion they provided, being respectful of Mom’s wishes/decisions through this process.
We are thankful for neighbours, friends and family (especially Bill and Donna Rideout, Ken and Pauline Butt, Dennis and Dorothy Fewer, Diane Griffin and Judy Kelly) who have shown Mom, and all of us, love and kindness with food and friendship. A special thank you to Race, Carolyn, Wendy, Peter and Rhonda Hanlon and families for the lifetime of shared music, laughter and love.
And we are most thankful for Mom. She has always been an amazing example of quiet strength and love. She has taught us the value of being a silent supporter and to help others, selflessly. She taught us that listening is more important than talking and yet she also taught us to find our own voice, so long as whatever the message, it is delivered with kindness. She has taught us a million other things that we will continue to learn from - we will miss her forever.
Due to COVID we were unable to gather and have a service for Dad and have chosen to now have a service and celebration for them both. A joint memorial mass will be held on Friday, October 21, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at the Roman Catholic Cathedral of Immaculate Conception. A reception will follow at the Royal Canadian Legion.
“Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none” – William Shakespeare