Catherine M. (nee Power) Linehan

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of a very special woman and the family matriarch, Catherine Linehan (nee Power) of North Harbour, SMB, in her 89th year. Catherine was a wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt, friend, Nan, Mudder, bread baker, touton maker, something out of nothing creator, sock and mitten knitter, and it didn’t stop there. She passed away on August 1, 2022 after a back and forth battle with death that she may not have been motivated to win this last time. To say she had a long and happy life would be a lie, so we will leave it at long with a touch of happy. Catherine was predeceased by her parents, Frank and Ida (Power) Power. Catherine was the last of her maternal generation of Powers, a title almost claimed by her brother, Richard (Dick), who passed away earlier this year. There to meet her in heaven is her husband, Edward, as well as five children whom she’s waited 42 years and 42 days to put her arms around; Francis, Richard, Sharon, Harold and Barry all perished in a house fire in 1980 breaking her heart and almost her spirit. It is their turn to have her.

We also believe her dearest friend, Marg, will throw open the gate to make sure she gets through without any of the tangles or scrapes she was well known for. Her sister May Critch will make sure everything is in order and may even have a scoff cooked, Thomas Dalton will be watching for her on the horizon to make sure she lands all right, and Ida Bennett will be there with a deck of cards to finish their game. She is also predeceased by members of the Linehan, Power, Critch and North Harbour families.

Leaving to mourn daughters; Mary McGrath and Ida Young (Thomas) and her sons; Eddy (Irena), Neil (Trudy) and Larry (Caroline). Missing Nan are her precious grandchildren and greatgrandchildren: Shayne Linehan (Stephanie, William and Audrey), Kirsten Doody (Eddy, Rogan, Kinley and Arlo), Scott McGrath (Jean, Cora and Abraham), Sharon Young (Mitch), Stacey Young (Elliott), Shawna Young (Brad, Parker and Sam) and Anna and Patrick Linehan. They will miss her Christmas boxes, her wool socks, her “first” money, her toudledy doudledies and most of all, her steadfast love and encouragement.  

As a family, we would like to extend a special thank you to staff at Admiral’s Coast Retirement Center, as well as at Pleasantview Towers for making Mom’s final years as active, engaging, and as comfortable as possible. What you do is a wonderful calling. You are all appreciated more than you realize. And to anyone who showed kindness, love, and support, we see you, we appreciate you, and will not forget you.

Resting at Dunphy’s Funeral Home, Holyrood. Visitation will be held on Friday August 5th and Saturday August 6th from 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm with cremation to follow. Final goodbyes can be said on Friday, August 19th at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, North Harbour, SMB from 1:00 pm to 9:00 pm with vigil service at 6:30 pm and Saturday, August 20th from 9:00 am to 10:30 am. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 am with interment to follow at Sacred Heart Cemetery, North Harbour, SMB.

Flowers are gratefully accepted but just so you know, Mom hated mums as they reminded her of death. On the other hand, she doesn’t have much say in the matter now. One of her greatest wishes was to do something for the little children in third world countries. She said if she ever won the lottery, that’s where the money would go. So, if you would like to buy a bed kit ($35) for a needy child in a foreign land in her memory, please do so at www.scaw.org. You will be required to have a sending address when you donate “in memory of” someone and can use 36 Legion Road, CBS, NL, A1X 6Y5. The family will make sure she sees every one of the children and she will know her wish was fulfilled.

We can only hope to emulate her character, her strength, her resilience, her love and her selflessness as we go forward without her.