Marie Philomena Johnston

Born 21 August 1934, entered eternal life 15 March 2024

The following is the eulogy given by Catherine at her mother’s funeral on Friday, 22 March 2024 at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, Deepdene

Marie Philomena Sharry was born 21 August 1934 in Horsham, Victoria; the third child of Daniel and Catherine – Kitty.  She was welcomed by her older sister, Lenore and brother, Leo.  Marie’s first few years of life were spent happily living in Horsham where the family actually lived next door to Daniel’s brother Tom, his wife and children.  However, Daniel’s health due to gas inflicted injuries from WW1, forced the family to relocate to Melbourne so he could be close to specialised medical care.  Eventually the family settled in Simpsons Road, Box Hill.  Their parish church was St Francis Xavier, an important part of their lives.  Marie and Lenore walked to attend the convent school, Our Lady of Sion and Leo travelled on the Ventura bus down Warrigal Road to the brothers at St Bede’s Mordiallic.  All three always shared happy memories of school life.  

Unfortunately, it wasn’t long before Lenore, Leo and Marie lost their father to illness and their widowed mother Kitty was left to raise her children on her own.  It was during these childhood years that Marie recalled the support provided by the Legacy Foundation delivering some relief to their financial hardship as a single parent household.  During this period, she also remembered the frequent family visitors who stayed for periods of time such as Auntie Fanny and Auntie Bertha (good old fashioned names).

In 1959, Kitty died suddenly.  By this time Lenore was Sr Beata of Our Lady of Sion, Leo was happily married to Joan while working at CSIRO and Marie was a qualified registered nurse and midwife working at St Vincent’s Hospital, Fitzroy.  This marks a turning point in Marie’s life as she sets off with her nursing friend, Moira to travel.  For at least 12 months, Marie worked as a nurse in Vancouver, Canada.  She shared accommodation with two sisters who become lifelong friends and correspondents.  Here Marie takes to indoor bowling and survives a road trip (of which she does a lot of the driving) across Canada from east to west. 

From Canada, Marie and Moira head to London and she spent time working at the Hammersmith Hospital.  This is the time of Beatles mania, and she sets up home in a London flat with nursing friends.  Photos indicate that she catches up with Leo and Joan for the first time after leaving Australia to celebrate Christmas 1964.  During this chapter Marie begins to explore Europe.  One of her highlights was meeting up with Lenore in Rome.  Spain was also a favourite destination.

Then Marie was convinced to travel to Northern Ireland.  Once again in the company of Moira and nursing friends, she sets up home and works at the Mater Hospital, Belfast where she meets Paddy Johnston and a romance begins.  On 29 May 1969, Marie marries Paddy in a small ceremony held in the chapel of Bellinter, an old Georgian house operating as a study centre run by the nuns of Our Lady of Sion.  At this opportune time, Lenore is a resident at Bellinter and she was able to celebrate Marie and Paddy’s happy day with the Johnston and Sharry families.

Within a couple of years Marianne and Catherine were born, but due to intensifying violence and security risks of the “Troubles”, Marie and Paddy make the momentous decision to leave Ireland and move to Australia.  By 1977, after travelling by ship, Marie and family relocated to Melbourne.  Both Marie and Paddy are working.  Marie is in frequent contact with Lenore who was also living in the same suburb and seasonal trips are undertaken to visit Leo and Joan in Sydney.

Marie reconnects with other family members, and as the years progress Marie provides help and support to her mother’s sister Bertha, otherwise known as Auntie B.  Together with John and Sue Sharry, Marie supports Uncle Ted, her father’s younger brother in his senior years.  Marie also continued to maintain strong ties to family in Ireland; Una, Anna and John plus Sean and Cora.  Like her generation, she was a great letter writer.

Life in the 80’s and 90’s for Marie continues to be focused on family and work as Marianne and Catherine progressed through secondary school and university.  Marie worked part time at her beloved Peter MacCallum Hospital in outpatient pathology, where she forged strong working relationships with her work colleagues.  She loved patient contact.  It wasn’t unusual for her to come home with a bag of Gala apples from someone’s orchard or a jar of jam/pickles from a grateful patient who appreciated her warm, caring thoughtful demeanor and gentle touch.

Travel took a backseat at this time.  Unfortunately, Paddy did not share her exploring spirit but nevertheless, Marie was able to satisfy this drive with regular trips here and there around Australia with Leo and Joan.

On 4 June 2004, Marie welcomed her son-in-law, Ben into her little fold, and by 10 September that year she is a grandmother for the first time.  Now retired from nursing, Marie turned her attention to the declining health of her husband, Paddy and her grandson, Tom.  She announced that she did not feel comfortable being called Granny, Grandma, Nanna; so from that day she has always simply been Marie to her grandchildren Tom, Ella, Lucy and Paddy.

Paddy died on 1 April 2011 and Marie was stunned and bereft. 

Patrick Daniel de Zoete is born on 9 November 2011 and Marie reorientates her focus to her grandchildren.  Tom, Ella, Lucy and Paddy definitely gave her a fresh zest and energy for life.  She thought nothing of hopping into her white Honda Jazz to zip across town to babysit, happily sleeping over to avoid driving at night.  Marie loved special occasions such as birthdays and was the number one ticket holder for family Masses and sacraments at St Margaret’s Maribyrnong.  She loved concerts, a musical, Christmas carols or an art exhibition.  She was an avid book reader and certainly shared her love of books with her grandchildren, particularly when they were little. 

Marie loved flowers – little bunches, big bunches, all colours.  Not overly sporty, she tolerated AFL but loved watching Wimbledon on TV and in later years, a ticket to the Australian Open was frequently on her summer agenda.  Even though she was married to an Irishman, she was not a drinker and could sit on a glass of wine for the whole event.  However, a cup of tea, well, that was her cure for everything!

Unfortunately, Alzheimers took a hold and in a way, we lost her before we knew we were actually losing her.  However, sometimes you saw the old Marie when she cracked a smile.  On behalf of myself, Ben, Tom, Ella, Lucy, Paddy and Marianne, I extend a heartfelt thanks to the staff at the Mews for the care of Marie over the past four and half years. 

So we will finish with a cheerio, as she used to say.  We’ll always put the kettle on for a drop of tea with you in mind.

A Poem for Marie

Marie grew up a bonnie girl,
Her head was crowned with golden curls.

She tended the sick with her caring spirit,
Administering pills with tea and a biscuit.

On board a ship, she set sail to explore,
Across oceans wide the waves did roar.

Until one fine day her travel ceased,
Marie found herself complete.

A happy wife on the emerald isle,
She parked her slippers with a happy smile.

But life has a funny way with twists and turns,
And her Irish stay was spoiled by nerves.

Before she knew, her compass changed,
Her peaceful life was rearranged.

Her bags were packed, her family in tow,
Marie moved back for a southern glow.

Time rolled on, her daughters grew,
The love of her life mellowed too.

She took a tram to work every day,
She rested on Sunday and made time to pray.

A letter here, a phone call there,
She liked to dress with a little flair.

Her radio on, the paper close,
An appointment to get to, a couple of shows.

A scarf to knit for a chilly day,
The car needs a service. John, I’m on my way!

A bedtime story with her beloved crew,
The candles were always lit for Marie too.

A garden rose, a chat with tea,
Marie lived incredibly.

Published: 19 April 2024