It is hard to summarize a life, especially one that extended nearly a century. Pat Furlong (known also as Mary Eileen O’Brien) was an unconventional woman of singular verve. Deeply religious, she could be a law unto herself. The date on her birth certificate, for example, was regularly pushed back, until she was attending university at age 9! She painted houses bright yellow, wore ridiculously large hats so her children could spot her in a crowd, and thought nothing of packing up on a day’s notice her eight offspring with the family German shepherd to head to the Saskatchewan wilderness. Her greatest passion was connecting and conversing with people. She changed her life often: teacher in a one-room school house, registered nurse during WWII, mother of 8 children, grandmother of 9, great grandmother of one, with 18 nieces and 8 nephews. She was mad about politics, an educator many times over who herself held learning in high esteem, possessing two post secondary degrees, one earned when she was over 50. She was the proverbial Good Samaritan, espousing many causes and supporting many charities. A private funeral service is being held 4 PM, January 10, 2014 at Our Lady of the Assumption, 7742 West Saanich Rd, Saanichton, BC.
A second service and burial to be held in Ottawa, Spring 2014.
In lieu of flowers, donations could be made to World Vision.
McCall Bros. Funeral Home
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Peggy Morrison Arsenault
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Geri Delle Palme All of the Furlong family is in my thoughts at this difficult time. No matter at what age, it is sad to lose one so close and cherished. I will continue to cherish her memory. She was unique, vivacious and an amazing role model for us all.
Love and prayers,
your cousin
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Lynne Smallman I would like to extend my sympathy to the Furlong children, spouses and grandchildren. I had the privilege of meeting ‘Gram’ in Ottawa a few times and met a number of her great children even as recently as in November. My sympathies to all of you.
take care
Lynne Smallmsn
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Betty Curtin My thoughts & prayers go out to the Furlong Family
I didn’t know Mrs. Furlong but I did know her daughter-in-law Barbara, with whom I worked in Ottawa.
I only knew Mrs. Furlong as “Gram”, but she sounded like quite a lady. It would have been an honour to have met her. She will be greatly missed by all her friends and family.
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barb gormley Gram you were an amazing person who loved all of us. I was lucky to come into your life and your extended family’s lives. You will forever be in my thoughts.
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Colin Arsenault My condolences to the Furlong family. It was a pleasure to know Eileen and to visit with her and her family in Ottawa on occasion. As a distant relative from PEI, it was nice to make this connection in my after relocating to Ottawa. My grandmother (Noreen Clohossey) always spoke fondly of Eileen.
The entire Arsenault/Clohossey family would would like to express our sympathies.
My sympathy to the family. Was your Moms parents James and Mary OBrien from Elmsdale, P.E.I. My mother was Ella MacDougall Morrison from Grand River.