Dear Imelda and Dohey family,

Our heartfelt condolences on the loss of your dear Aunt Mary. I remember her fondly from when I was a little girl in the 60's, running back and forth the lane to your house in Holyrood. When she would come for a visit it was like a Princess coming to town and I recall your family's joyful anticipation of her arrival. I was so fortunate to have met her as she had a real impact on my life and yours as an amazing role model. 

She was such a beautiful and and spirited lady - inside and out. She inspired us with her stories of, " far away places with strange sounding names - far away over the seas", and encouraged us to see the world. Her grace and bravery should remind us all that real beauty is found within us and is a timeless legacy.

We know that she has discovered a new destination, that is paradise, and she is soaring even higher in the skies watching over family and world travellers. I also know that your dear Dad was there to welcome her with open arms.

Love Christina and Jesse Fehr

Calgary Alberta

Memories of Aunt Mary go way back to when I was a child. To her trips to visit us in Labrador City where she loved to ski at Smokey Mountain, to her talking dad into trying cross country skiing...that was hilarious! And to visiting her at her home in Mississauga. All of those memories are special, but the ones that we made in recent years hold an extra special spot in my heart.

Aunt Mary was an avid traveller and I believe she passed that love on to me! I have been fortunate to travel to many places with this wonderful woman, as my tour guide in the places she had previously been, and as a tourist in the places she had not. She always delighted in seeing different places and I was always amazed to hear her stories of when she had visited there before and the things she has seen and done. Even when we were not traveling she always had a story to tell! Our last trip was to New Orleans and even though she had slowed down, she took in all the flavour and entertainment that the city had to offer!

Rest easy now....your travelling on this side is done. I hope you are having a grand chat with dad and Rube and the rest of your family and with all your flying buddies that have gone before you. I will forever miss you!

Love and hugs

Nora

I have many fond memories of Aunt Mary growing up.  The very first plane ride I had was back in the mid 60's. It was an Air Canada flight from Gander to St. John's that Aunt Mary treated us to!  Our family, including Aunt Mary were in Square Pond Cabins on vacation.  Aunt Mary wanted to do something special for us so she took my brother Wayne and sisters, Elaine, Corinne and I on a flight from Gander to St. John's while Dad & Mom drove back in the station wagon with our baby sister - Louise. It was one of our biggest thrills of our lives and I'll never forget it!  We were so grateful for her kindness! We arrived in St. John's in about an hour and went to Aunt Mary's best friend's house - Pat Porter's - to wait for Mom & Dad to pick us up.  

Aunt Mary always came bearing gifts but I loved the "old" Air Canada uniforms including hats that had been replaced by new ones.  Aunt Mary never had the heart to throw them out so she would bring them home for us to play dress up as airline stewardesses. 

Aunt Mary was a giving and unselfish lady and once again proven by heroic actions on that scary flight #812 from Calgary in 1971.  I remember Dad getting the call from Air Canada to tell him the scary news.  We waited for many hours for the phone to ring and Aunt Mary called Dad to tell us she was alive and well. Dad was so relieved to hear her voice.

Aunt Mary was also a nurse which was a pre-requisite back in the day to become an airline stewardess. Aunt Mary took some time off work and devoted that time with Mother Teresa. Her first hand stories about Mother Teresa and the work she did was amazing.

Aunt Mary lived an exciting life and we hope she is reunited with Dad and the rest of the Dohey clan!  

Love,
Imelda, John, Jessica & Rebecca Roche
(Imelda Mary Dohey)

Holyrood, Newfoundland


This picture was taken of Aunt Mary before we left Square Pond to board our flight in Gander.

Aunt Mary touched the lives of all our family.  Mom (Agnes), Dad(Harry) and my brothers and sisters looked forward to Aunt Mary's visits.  She usually stayed for a week or more at a time.She always treated us well and I'll never forget that contagious smile of hers.

I have a photo of both of us uploaded here which is taken at Toronto airport. I was on a high school trip in 1981 to the Canary Islands and had a layover in Toronto on the way back.  I asked one of the Air Canada agents if they knew  Aunt Mary and told the agent I was her niece and that I would love to see her. They had her paged as they thought she may be in the airport as she was flying a domestic flight that day!  In a short time, I saw Aunt Mary walking towards me. When she saw me, she cried and hugged me and was so happy that her dear brother, Harry's child took the time to look her up.  We had a wonderful chat with lots of laughs and hugs.

She was semi-retired as Air Canada wasn't ready to let go of one of their "treasures".  Aunt Mary you were a treasure to all of us!

Love,
Corinne Dohey & family

Holyrood, Newfoundland

The story of my Aunt Mary's bravery is one that I shared often growing up in Holyrood.  I was and still am incredibly proud of the bravery she showed that day by saving so many lives. Having her as one of my role models in life, to never give up, to never believe an obstacle was too great and to believe in myself and the strength that I had as a woman. 

Every time Aunt Mary came to visti it was like Christmas to us children!!  She always came to our house to stay and had gifts for everyone. Sometimes as simple as a pair of slippers from Air Canada!!!  Lol. There were 8 kids in my family, and she always made sure she had something for everyone. 

My dad Harry Dohey, was her brother. To say he was proud of her is an understatement. They didn't have grand privileges growing up in St Brides, so it seemed to intensify the pride he had for his sister when she had such great successes in her life.  On each visit to our home, my father and his sister would share many late evenings reminiscing and sharing stories until late hours of the night. 

The story of Aunt Mary Dohey will live on in our family. We all have the news paper clippings, magazine articles and books that tell the tale of that Air Canada flight. But her story is larger than that. She was a truly unique lady, that got the attention of everyone in the room and the hearts of those around her. 

I truly hope that there is some sort of life after death.  Most of her family have also left this world.  I can only imagine the kitchen party all the family are having as they catch up since they last talked!  Aunt Mary if you see my dad, tell him we miss him dearly!

Cheryl. 

May Mary find eternal happiness and peace. All the Dohey family are saddened by Mary's passing. We have so many fond memories of Mary when she stayed with us in Holyrood throughout the years.
My husband,Harry Dohey was very close to her and our family shared many good times. After Harry passed in 1998, we kept in touch over the years with letters, cards,phone calls and most recent my son, Wayne had a nice long visit with her. She recounted to him the endless love and joy that she felt when she visited our home in Holyrood. God bless!

Love,
Agnes Dohey & Family

Holyrood, Newfoundland