Mary Madeleine Bennett 
(née Kelly)

Mary Madeleine Bennett (née Kelly) formerly The Hawthorn, Patrick St, Portarlington, County Offaly), aged 81 years, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on Tuesday, July 13th, 2021, after a nine-month battle with ALS.

Madeleine is survived by her husband Brian; her children and their spouses Fiona and Artur, Eoin and Belinda, Tara and Mike, Darra, and Laura; her grandchildren Jack, Jenna, Connor, and Sloane; and her brothers James, PJ, and Frank.

You can join in celebrating Madeleine’s life on Monday July 19th, 2021. The Mass will be livestreamed From St. Thomas More Catholic Parish, Edmonton. Mass will start at 11am (MST Canada time, 6pm Irish time). The link is https://youtu.be/zDy9zqUyKXs. As Madeleine was an avid supporter of Chalice, in lieu of flowers, please consider sending donations to the following link https://www.chalice.ca/donate. 

On Wednesday, 21st July 2021, at 10am, Mass will be offered for Mary Madeleine Bennett at The Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, Foxrock, Dublin 18.

Mass can be viewed on the church webcam at: https://foxrockparishchallenges.com/home/webcam/

Madeleine was born on June 14th, 1940, to PJ and Elizabeth Kelly (née O’Connor) of the Hawthorn, Portarlington, Ireland.  Her childhood was spent in Portarlington.  She was educated at the Dominican College Eccles Street Dublin.  She qualified as a nurse at the Mater Hospital Dublin, and then worked as a midwife helping to bring many people into this world.   Subsequently, she moved to Saskatoon, Canada, in 1967, where she married her beloved husband, Brian Richard Bennett.  Together they raised four children: Fiona, Eoin, Tara, and Darra.

Madeleine was a woman of strong character.  Not only did she raise four children and run a household, but she also worked full time with her husband Brian to make sure her family was looked after. She would work, make dinner, and then take the kids to their events with passion and grace.  She loved to watch her children grow.  Madeleines’ greatest passion was the wellbeing of her friends and family.  She loved to have a cup of tea with family and friends as often as possible to make sure they were doing well.  She would give sound advice, but more importantly was able to listen. She was always available to help raise her grandchildren, often looking after them while their parents worked.  One of her favourite things to do was to arrive unannounced to bring her grandchildren spending money just before they left to go on vacation, resulting in big smiles all around.  She brought happiness with her whenever she arrived.   She would also return to Ireland and visit her many friends and relatives with whom she had always maintained contact.  Her ability to maintain relationships and keep people together was astounding.

Madeleine excelled in sports while in school and maintained her love of sporting activities throughout her life.  She was particularly fond of watching tennis and will have a special place for Rafael Nadal at her tea table in heaven!

Being a devout Catholic, Madeleine attended mass regularly and was mindful in her prayers for the wellbeing of family and friends.  Madeleine made important times of the year special for her family.  The wafting smell of a stuffed roast chicken on Christmas Day and the excitement of receiving an Easter egg on Easter Sunday will forever be cherished.  

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I’M FREE

Don’t grieve for me for now I’m free,

I’m following the path God laid for me.

I took His hand when I heard Him call:

I turned my back and left it all.

I could not stay another day

To laugh, to love, to work or play.

Tasks left undone must stay that way;

I found my place at the close of day.

If my parting has left a void

Then fill it with remembered joys.

A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss,

Ah yes, these things I too shall miss.

Be not burdened with times of sorrow:

I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.

My life’s been full, I savoured much;

Good friends, good times, a loved ones touch.

Perhaps my life seemed all too brief:

Don’t lengthen it now with undue grief.

Lift up your heart and share with me;

God wanted me now, He set me free.