Mary. Dody. Aunt Dote. Reds. Shieldsy. Babe. Mom. Grandmom.
Whichever name you may have known her by, the soul born as Mary Dolores Shields, and later to become Mary McTamney, beloved wife of Joe, was one beautiful, talented, loving, and spiritual being.
She sang like an angel... wrote poetry, painted, and drew.
She could have become a well respected artist in any of these fields if not for her love and commitment to her husband, Joe (who adored her for it) and their six extremely lucky children.
She never cared a lick about money, and if you needed it, she would give whatever little she had.
She was medical advisor to many neighbors who would often come to her for advice, even though her official job description was "ward clerk" at St. Mary's hospital.
If anyone suffered any hardship, Dody would be at the front door with food and a shoulder to lean on.
Which brings us to another attribute which will stand out to anyone who has ever been blessed enough to have had Mary in their lives.
She was one tough red headed cookie, and anyone who has unwittingly found themselves in the path of hurricane Dody will attest to this!
But this was no tough facade.
Mary had a deep inner strength based on her love of family and friends, but even more so, on her love and trust in God.
It was this love and trust which carried her through times of grief, tragedy, and illness.
It was this strength born of love and trust in God which will be her legacy to anyone who knew her, but especially her children and grandchildren,
who watched in disbelief as she waltzed through heart attack after heart attack, glided her way across cancer, and was happy to do the two step after a crippling stroke.
Considering a life so full of personal triumphs, grief seems almost out of the question. The cry of "Victory!" seems more appropriate.
Of course, there aren't really adequate words to portray a whole life, especially a life so filled with depth, love and greatness ...
That book is written on the hearts of everyone who ever knew and loved Mary, and whose lives have surely been made all the better for having known her.
We are all grateful.
God bless you, Dody, as God has blessed us all through you.
Until we meet again...