 Mary O’Shea was born in Raynes Park southwest of London, England in 1914. She remembers growing up in a house filled with her mother’s singing. Mary’s mother was a member of a women’s choir and honed her vocal skills through constant practice in her happy home while attending to her daily chores.
It was then that Mary gained her love of music, particularly the joy of singing. Through the years she developed love of all music but takes joy in the variety of voice particularly the sounds of Welch men’s choirs. Her fondness for music and harmony in all aspects of her life eventually lead her to piano lessons but she demonstrated little aptitude. However, later in life she would augment her voice with the harmonic tones of the guitar.
Mary’s husband had a desire to immigrate to Canada so in 1957 he took advantage of a government assistance programme sending for the family six months later. Settling in Chemainus, on Vancouver Island, the going was tough for the first few years. However, a stoic Mary, buoyed with song and a sunny disposition, worked through the tough times and raised her six children. It was in Chemainus that Mary, following her musical mother’s example joined a church choir and later at age 62 found someone to teach her five or six lessons on a $25.00 guitar.
In 1977, Mary and her husband moved to New Denver in the Kooteneys where her voice, music, sunny disposition and community involvement would again endear her to the new community. In the 28 years she resided in New Denver, the community would come to love Mary O’Shea, as she became part of the social fabric of the town. Her voice garnered an introduction and membership in the Valhalla Community Choir. In her late 80’s Mary joined the New Denver Golden Oldies where she played the guitar with the band and sang with the choral component that included her daughter Jan O’Shea-George and Jan’s partner Michael Dean (The subject of previous articles in this Newsmagazine).
Mary lost her husband in 1989 and sixteen years later decided to move back to ‘The Little Town That Could’ Chemainus where she continues to participate in her love of music. Not a shrinking violet, Mary approached and then auditioned at an open mike for local music notable Phillip Holmes, who was so taken by Mary’s age and ability that he asked her to perform three songs at the Dancing Bean Pub. As luck would have it on the night of her stage debut, Mary came down with laryngitis. However, the band along with family and the appreciative audience leant their vocal support to bolster her fading voice resulting in a standing ovation and curtain call.
Recently, Mary has been requested to appear at the open mike at the Chemainus Twisted Sisters Coffee House. Mary, now ninety-three years of age, proves that we don’t stop playing because we get old – we get old because we stop playing.
October 2007 Gloria Flaman |
