Mary Conlon

Mary (Gillis) Conlon, age 99, passed away peacefully on August 10 in Venice, Florida, surrounded by several members of her loving family. She had been residing at Aston Gardens at Pelican Pointe in Venice.

Mary was born in 1926 in Upper Southwest Mabou, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada, one of five children born to Duncan and Philomena (Moran) Gillis. She grew up on a large working farm, where she cared for animals and assumed many responsibilities. Mary attended grades 1–10, along with religion classes, in a one-room schoolhouse with a wood stove in the middle. She fondly remembered a few teachers who would hold her hand on the walk to school—a kindness that stayed with her throughout her life.

Her mother, Philomena, served as the community’s postmistress, and their home became a gathering place for neighbors awaiting the mail. Lunch was often served, followed by spirited games of Auction. Her father, Duncan, worked as the mailman, picking up mail at Glencoe Station and making his delivery rounds before returning home.

At age 16, Mary’s brother Joe invited her to live with him and his wife Tessie in New Jersey, and she traveled there alone by plane and bus. When Tessie began working after Joe’s draft into military service, Mary returned to Cape Breton for a time. Later, her Aunt Molly and Uncle Neal offered her the chance to move to Massachusetts, where she began working at Hood Ice Cream at age 18.

It was at Hood Ice Cream that Mary met John Conlon, the man who would become the love of her life. They married on December 27, 1947, during a heavy snowstorm. While living in Massachusetts, they welcomed three children: Joan, John, and Diane. In 1963, the family relocated to Concord, New Hampshire, where they lived until retiring in 1988 to Bradenton, Florida. They later moved to Haines City in 2014. John passed away on March 26, 2018, just three months after they celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary.

Mary loved her family and friends dearly. Sundays often found her hosting dinners, enjoying conversation, and watching football and hockey with loved ones. She was an accomplished craftsperson who enjoyed ceramics, quilting, and Cape Breton music—especially the sound of bagpipes. She was proud to help organize a Moran Family Reunion in Cape Breton in 1990, a three-day ceilidh that brought together more than 500 relatives.

She was predeceased by her beloved husband, John T. Conlon; her parents; her siblings Richard, Daniel, Margie, Joe, and Patrick; and her grandson, Joseph Morrison of Concord, New Hampshire. She is survived by her children: Joan Morrison (Jim), John D. Conlon (Jean), and Diane Conlon (Garrett Ryder); her grandchildren Jaime Morrison, Stacey Colegrove, and Dan Godbout; and her great-grandchildren Alex Morrison, Janae Addison, Lukas Colegrove, Ella Colegrove, and Billy Taylor. She also leaves behind many cherished relatives in Canada with whom she kept in close touch throughout the years.

Above all, Mary was kind, loving, and steadfast in her faith. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

Interment will be held at a later date at Sarasota National Cemetery in Sarasota, Florida.

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