Obituary of Mary Catherine Irene Bardsley

Mary Catherine Irene (Collins) Bardsley, a life-long resident of Saint John, died peacefully in the early hours of Friday, August 24, 2018 surrounded by family at Rocmaura Nursing Home, where she had been a resident for the past nine years. She was 98 years old. She was an amazing and generous wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, great-grandmother, Aunt and friend. She was affectionately known as Rene, Reenster, and Nana. Born April 16, 1920, she was the only child of the late Harold L. Collins and Mary Elizabeth (Daly) Collins. She was predeceased by her beloved husband of 45 years - Robert Delaney Bardsley, and more recently by her eldest son Robert Michael Bardsley of Fredericton. Thankfully because of advanced stages of Alzheimer’s disease, she did not suffer the agonizing knowledge of losing a child. She is survived by two sons: Dr. David Collins Bardsley of Fredericton and Peter Collins Bardsley (Kim Hunter) of Saint John; daughter-in-law Mary Kennedy Bardsley (the late Robert Michael) of Fredericton; 5 grandchildren: Jennifer Keefe (Christopher) of Needham, MA; R. Michael Bardsley Jr. (Michelle Peach) of Fredericton; T. Patrick Bardsley (Barb Stanley) of Tulsa, OK; Mark C. Bardsley of Toronto and J. Alexander Bardsley of Saint John. She had 5 great-grandchildren: James, Elizabeth and Anne Charlotte Keefe, Declan Bardsley and Andrew Bardsley. She was also predeceased by great-grandson, William Michael Bardsley, her brother-in-law, John "Jack" Bardsley and her sister-in-law and best friend, Eileen (Sheehan) Bardsley. Irene shared a love of dogs with her family, and she was proud to have 5 grand-dogs who all visited her at Rocmaura over the years. As all good Catholic girls did in Saint John in the 1930’s, she attended Saint Vincent’s Girl’s High School, following which, Irene went on to work as a Bank Teller for the Royal Bank of Canada. World War II interrupted her romance with handsome young flight lieutenant Robert "Bob" Bardsley who was active overseas during the war years. She and Bob maintained constant contact by letter during those years, and the stack of love letters she saved is testament to how their love blossomed. On July 17, 1945 Irene married the love of her life and they went on to start a family which resulted in her greatest accomplishment, her three sons, Michael, David & Peter. She was a very involved mother opting to stay at home to raise her boys. She, along with her mother "Mrs. Collins" never left their Corkery Street kitchen during those early years. Her husband and boys came home every day to lunch to a full dinner of a roast of something, potatoes and vegetables; topped off by a fresh "from scratch" apple pie. As their family went back to school and work, both mother and grandmother would do the dishes and start all over again making yet another large meal and a fresh pie for dinner. Not one to sit idle, Irene was active at an early age enjoying racket sports, skiing and sailing. She was one of the early members of the Dusty Sneakers gym classes at the YMCA and brought her love to skiing to her family, who in later years spent many a ‘dark winter’ in Sugarloaf, Maine. Along with skiing, the family was active in sailing and Irene spent countless days along the St. John River on the family’s sailboat "The Mad Hatter." Her grandchildren were fortunate enough to have "Nana & Bob" join them on many occasions on their family’s sailboat, "Morning Mist." Her grandchildren share fond memories of two parents, two grandparents, 5 kids and a dog stuffed into a 30’ sailboat and sitting in the fog for days exploring the Coast of Maine. The camera loved Irene and her movie star smile! She had the uncanny ability to strike a pose and smile beautifully whenever a camera was near. She will be remembered for her sense of style and fashion. She never left the house without matching coat, hat, shoes, gloves and hand bag. In later years, many Saint Johners will recall seeing Irene and her sister-in-law Eileen wandering through the City Market in matching London Fog trench coats, tams and silk scarves. No shrinking violet, Irene was well read, and often devoured three newspapers a day. She was independent of thought and loved to offer opinions of world affairs – especially politics. She will be fondly remembered for her disdain when someone voiced an opinion that she did not share and would frequently utter the phrase "doubtsies." Life for Irene changed when cancer took her best friend and life partner Bob away in 1990. She remained active and loved to travel joining her boys and their families whenever she could. When she was in her early 80s, she travelled across the Atlantic to join up with one son to explore Spain. She travelled on the back of David’s motorcycle, wearing high fashion "heeled" leather boots, and a leopard- skinned silk scarf under her helmet. A devout Catholic, Irene was a daily fixture at St. Pius X Church. She was fortunate to celebrate the Millennium with a trip to the Vatican. Her visit to the Holy City was timed over Easter and it became one of the highlights of her life. The family would like to thank and praise the amazing care offered by the professional staff of Rocmaura Nursing Home, especially Nurse Brenda, retired nurse Eleanor and Irene’s personal caregivers. Your years of caring for our mother will never be forgotten and your kindness and tenderness in her final hours, is a tribute to your profession. Resting at Brenan’s Funeral Home, 111 Paradise Row, Saint John, NB, 634-7424 with visitation on Monday, August 27, 2018 from 3 pm – 8 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Irene’s lifelong parish, St. Pius X Church at 316 Somerset Street, Saint John, NB, at 11 am on Tuesday, August 28, 2018 with Msgr. Brian Sheehan J.V. as Celebrant. Interment will follow at St. Joseph’s Cemetery on Westmorland Road. Donations may be made to the Rocmaura Foundation Inc. or charity of donor’s choice.