Mary Estelle Finnegan died after a brief illness on April 2, 2013 which happened to be her 65th wedding anniversary. She was born to Holland Kelly Pace and Ida Jones Pace on November 9, 1916 in Shults, OK.
She attended school in Idabel, OK and continued her education at Murray State and at Oklahoma A and M where she earned her degree in home economics in 1938. She taught high school at Fairfax, OK and at Zaneis, OK until 1947 when she took a position with Special Services. She was commissioned by the Pentagon for duty in Frankfort Germany where she was a director of a service club for soldiers.
While in Germany she met the love of her life Edward Finnegan who after military service had remained in Germany as a civilian employee of Pan American Airlines. They married on April 2, 1948 at St. Sebastian Catholic Church in Frankfort Germany.
She and Mr. Finnegan traveled Europe and eventually were stationed in Iceland. In 1950 they moved back to the U.S. settling on Long Island, NY where they raised six children who survive: Mary Ann (John) Harzinski, Kevin (Kaye) Finnegan, Christopher Finnegan, Paul (Crystal) Finnegan, Estelle C. Finnegan, and Barry (Paulette) Finnegan.
Mr. and Mrs. Finnegan lived on Long Island for 26 years. While living on Long Island Mrs. Finnegan substituted for the Huntington school district. They later moved to Muskogee, OK where she continued to substitute until they moved to FL . In 1983 they retired to Lakeland, FL. During their retirement, they enjoyed traveling. They loved touring the states in their RV, visiting all but Alaska.
Her husband died in 1998 shortly after they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Besides her children, she is survived by eight grandchildren, two great grandchildren, and several nieces. She was preceded in death by her siblings: Irene Pauley, Lois Carr, Jones Pace, and Idabelle Roger.
Mrs. Finnegan was interested in the domestic arts, especially sewing and gardening. Later in life she began painting with oils, acrylics, and watercolors. She painted many beautiful landscapes, rustic scenes, and family portraits. Her paintings are cherished by relatives and friends alike.
She had a calm, sweet disposition. She was interested in those around her and she always reached out to others rather than putting herself in the center of attention. In her 96 plus years she made many friends and will be sorely missed.
A mass of Christian burial will take place at 10am at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Edmond on Monday, April 8. Burial in Holy Rood Cemetery in Westbury, NY will take place at a later date.
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