Mary McPartland nee Toolis
South Carolina, United States and formerly of Cabaun, Achill Island – aged 88, passed away peacefully on Thursday, August 10, 2023.
Wife of the late Francis Leo McPartland
Born in Ireland, she was the daughter of the late Michael Toolis and the late Ann Gallagher Toolis. Mary was born in the village of Cabaun on Achill Island, in County Mayo in 1934. She was the oldest of 11 children born to Michael Toolis and Ann Gallagher Toolis. She was one of five girls: Mary, Bridie, Bernadette, Margaret and Catherine (all deceased except Bridie, who lives in Cabaun beside the family home). Mary had six brothers Packie (RIP), Michael Edward (Australia), John Greg (Achill), Eugene (Dublin) and the twins Edward (Dublin) and Tom (Castlebar, County Mayo).
She emigrated to America at the age of 20 with her younger sister, Bridie. They lived in South Carolina where she met and married her husband Frank McPartland, also from Ireland (County Leitrim). Bridie recalls their trip to America: They emigrated on November 27,1954 on the ship “RMS Saxonia.” which departed the Cobh of Cork. It was the Saxonia’s maiden voyage and the ocean crossing was extremely rough. When they arrived into New York Harbor the ship was greeted by bagpipes and music welcoming the new ship on its maiden voyage. There, they were met by their Aunt Molly (Ann's sister) and her husband Johnny Patten and lived with them in Brooklyn. They were both heartbroken and homesick to have left Mayo.
Mary was known for her great sense of humor and love for Jack Russell Terriers and Ballroom Dancing. She received her New York State Hairstyling license in 1985.
She was a loving mother and grandmother and is survived by sons, Frank McPartland (Donna) of Arlington, Virginia and John McPartland of Mauldin; a daughter, Ann Marie McPartland Wilhelmi of Fountain Inn; and grandchildren, Shane McPartland, Myles McPartland, Tyler Wilhelmi, and Tanner Wilhelmi. Mary is also survived by her sisters-in-law Elish McPartland of Waltham, Massachusetts and Helen Loftus of Maywood, New Jersey.
In addition to her husband and parents, she was predeceased by her daughter, Maureen McPartland.
A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church, 2252 Woodruff Road, Simpsonville, SC 29681 on Friday, August 18, 2023 at 10am US Time (3pm Irish Time)
Burial will follow in Greenville Memorial Gardens.
The ceremony will be live streamed at the following link:
https://youtube.com/live/Oiye_ABSE9s?feature=share.
In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Mary can be made to the Sisters of the Good Shepard Advocacy (https://www.gsadvocacy.org/giving.html) or the ASPCA (aspca.org).
