Obituary

Mary Elizabeth O’Brien, 99 years of virtue, passed away on Easter Sunday, April 16, 2017. She was born February 28, 1918, in Chicago, Illinois, the only surviving daughter of Catherine Mary Brosnan O’Brien and John Louis O’Brien.
She was predeceased by her older brother, John Louis O’Brien II, two baby sisters, Margerie O’Brien, and Catherine O’Brien. Surviving is her younger brother, Thomas Joseph O’Brien (Florence Ricker), of Punta Gorda, Florida. Her husband of 53 years, Theodore Cunnington Tharin Jr, is also deceased, as is their beloved son, Theodore C. Tharin III.
Her surviving children and spouses are: Maureen Tharin Griggs (Phil) of Bellingham, WA, Michael O’Brien Tharin (Linda) of North Augusta, SC, and Thomas Patrick Tharin of Birmingham, AL. Mary’s seven grandchildren all survive her: Ryan and Patrick Griggs of Bellingham, WA; John Michael Schook of Houston, Texas and Katie Schook of Dallas Texas; twin grandsons: Jason Tharin (Amanda), and Andrew Tharin (Ashley) of Columbia, SC, and Jonathan Tharin, of Columbia, SC. In 2011 Jason and Amanda bestowed the title of “Great Grand Mother” upon Granny, with the birth of Amelia Grace, her first great grandchild on May 11th, 2011. In 2013, the family name “Tharin” was assured to continue, with Andrew and Jason’s new sons, born just a month apart. Andrew and Ashley presented Granny with her first great grandson, Ace Cooper Tharin on November 11th, 2013. On December 10th, 2013, Jason and Amanda welcomed namesake, Maxwell O’Brien Tharin into their expanding family tree. Mary was born, raised and lived the exemplary life of a devout Roman Catholic. She was totally devoted to her home, family and church. Her strong faith, with all the attending Catholic traditions, was visited upon her children, and they were subsequently all raised in the church, and educated in parochial schools around the country. God bless those nuns, every one! In the depth of the Depression, Mary worked with the Bell Telephone Company in Chicago, Illinois to help support her family. There she met her future husband, Ted. They married only weeks before he left for England, where he flew 69 B-26 missions over Germany and France, before returning safely home. After the war, they proudly remained in the service of their country, being stationed in many parts of the country, and briefly, abroad in the Philippines, before Ted’s retirement from the US Army in 1959. Life after their military retirement was spent in Ozark, Alabama, where Mary relished the locale as well as the southern hospitality of the community, which suited her so well. There, in addition to raising their five children, she returned to school to study nursing, and graduated with honors from George C Wallace Community College. For many years, she worked at the local hospital, Dale County Medical Center, where she continued a nurturing role which she performed so spectacularly. Mary moved to Bellingham WA in 1994 to be near her family, and spent many happy years in The Village at Cordata after the loss of her husband, Ted. While at “The Village”, she enjoyed flying a variety of flags representing her heritage…..the Irish flag, the Vatican flag, the Alabama flag, and of course, Old Glory, always. She encouraged others to do the same, and eventually a “Cordata Flag Day” was established in the community, which brought much enjoyment to the residents. Mary’s final move was to Orchard Park Assisted Living Facility, where she once again, as she had so often in the past, established a new home, new friends, and a new routine. In her day, among Mary’s finest traits was her penultimate finesse and tact; Her “Irish Diplomacy” was legendary. Another hallmark quality was her lifelong desire to help others. Therefore, it is entirely proper to request, that in her honor, the reader might do a good turn for another……there could be no more fitting memory than this! Her family will miss her greatly; absent is her person, but enduring is the remembrance of a life of love, devotion and service. In accordance with her wishes, there will be a private family service at The Church of The Assumption, with a Celebration of Life to be held at a later date in Ozark, AL at St. Johns Catholic church.