Mary Philomena Clarke
elevated op3jE April 8, 1943 ~ February 10, 2025
elevated op3jE Visitation
Tuesday, February 18, 2025, from 5:00 – 8:00 pm
Holy Cross Catholic Funeral Home
211 Langstaff Road East, Thornhill, Ontario, L3T 3Z6
Please use the Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery gates on Langstaff Road East, just west of Bayview Avenue. Once in the Cemetery, turn left at the first interior road, travelling east up the hill towards the Funeral Home.
elevated op3jE Funeral Mass
Wednesday, February 19, 2025 at 12:00 pm
Chapel of St. Joseph at Holy Cross Catholic Funeral Home
211 Langstaff Road East, Thornhill, Ontario, L3T 3Z6
elevated op3jE To view the Funeral Mass, please click here.
elevated op3jE Interment To Follow
Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery
elevated op3jE Obituary
Mary Philomena Clarke passed away peacefully on February 10, 2025, with her loving son Steven by her side. Known fondly as Philomena by her loved ones, she was born in County Mayo, Ireland in 1943 to Michael and Teresa. Philomena was the second eldest of eleven siblings, often helping to raise her younger brothers and sisters. Philomena trained as a registered nurse, and moved to Canada to pursue her calling, where she worked in the medical field for more than 40 years. Philomena’s life was defined by her love of people. Through her lifelong work as a nurse, Philomena cared for everyone around her. Whether it came through a phone call, a surprise package in the mail or a visit, everyone knew that Philomena was a source of warmth and comfort. She loved nature and animals, and enjoyed tending to her garden. Philomena was preceded in death by her siblings Séamus, Michael Joseph, Padraig and John, and is survived by her son, Steven, her daughter-in-law, Michelle and her grandson, Dean, as well as her siblings Bríd, Frank, Helen, Micheál, Vincent, Bernadette and their families, all of whom will always remember the love she brought to their lives.
elevated op3jE In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Alzheimer’s Society of Canada or Woodgreen Community Services in Mary’s memory.
Auntie Phil, I always associated you with summer holidays in Gortogher. Wonderful memories of you checking blood pressure & giving out health checks to the kids.
Gentle, kind, generous, and quick to laugh. You were much loved and will be sorely missed. Rest in peace x
My condolences Steve, Michelle, and Dean.
Dear Philomena,
Like so many I have fond memories of your warmth and humanity and of your want to help others. I especially remember the summer I spent in Canada with you and Steve, such good memories to this day.
Rest in Peace and condolences to Steve, Michelle and Dean.
Thanks for your help and to phil RIP when I stayed in toronto 1984, I will pass this mass time next week video link to our cousin bernie who asked about your famlly
May Philomena rest with the angels
Rest in peace.
You were such a lovely aunty. I have so many treasured memories of you visiting us in Tullyegan and when we stayed with you in Toronto. You were such a kind and generous soul. Rest in peace xxx
My condolences to Steve,Michelle and Dean.
Philomena was always caring, warm and generous on her visits home to Ireland. I have lovely memories of her.
We were lucky to have her as our Aunt.
David Clarke
Ballina
So sorry to hear of Mary’s passing, she joined us at many Mayo events here in Toronto.
I remember her coming to watch her nephew David play in goals for Mayo…how proud she was.
Rest in peace.
My heartfelt condolences to Steven and the rest of the Clarke family. I have many fond memories of Philomena: visiting her in her nursing residence in London when I was a wee mite, her and Steven staying at our house for a while in my teens, visiting her on Hansen St. May she rest in peace and God’s light shine on her perpetually.
I remember meeting Philomena on her first day at Garracloon national school in the mid 1940s. Her brother Seamus (RIP) was my classmate and good friend in London, England for almost 5 years in the early 1960s. I was unaware she was in Toronto until her brother Seamus came to Toronto for a visit over 20 years ago. The Clarkes were all wonderful people and were first cousins to my next-door neighbors the Quinns. She was always friendly and kind with a great sense of humor. She loved her family and Ireland very much. Our sincere condolences to Stephen, Michelle, Dean and all Philomena’s Family, immediate and extended.
Rest in peace Philomena.
I have the loveliest memories of your visits to Mayo. You’d take us for long walks and tell us stories about fairies and witches and we’d love it so much! We stayed with you for a while around the time of Steve’s wedding and you spoiled us all rotten.
You were a kind, generous soul and you’ll be sorely missed by so many people.
Sending much love to Steve, Michelle and Dean during this difficult time.
Dear Steve, Michelle and Dean, so sorry for your loss. Aunty Philomena had such spirit, the most generous heart, always making a fuss over us all, we miss her. She is at peace now, god rest her soul xxx
Sincere sympathy Stephen, Michelle and Dean on Philomena”s death. She was a lovely cousin and so fond of my mother… Aunt Baby. We hope to tune in to Philomena s Mass ..Thinking of you at this sad time. Love Nuala xx
Aunty Philomena,
Such a kind, thoughtful, gentle and loving lady.
Some very special memories of your trips home to Ireland and the time we spent together.
Thinking of Steve, Michelle & dean xx
My sincere sympathy to the Clarke family on the passing of Philomena. I met Philomena on one of her trips home. When she came to our house to visit my father her cousin Tiernan Quinn
My sincere sympathy to Steve, Michelle & Dean on the passing of Philomena. I was so delighted to receive a wonderful letter of Congratulation’s from Philomena when I graduated as a solicitor (fadò fadò). I was most fortunate that my parents Jimmy (o/n Sonny) & Delia chose my godparents well- Auntie Teresa & Cousin Seamus, Auntie Teresa always remembered my birthday until I turned 21!It is wonderful to have so many precious memories of all our loved ones who have gone before us, Rest in Peace Philomena.
My sincere sympathy to Steven, Michelle and Dean on the loss of the lovely Philomena.
She was always gentle and kind and even at school I remember her smile. I have no doubt many patients benefited from her kindness and care during her years in the Nursing profession. My last menory of her was with my sister Marina when she was in Ireland. Marina has also passed away and we trust they are now catching up in a better land.
Condolences to Steve & family, Auntie Philomena will be missed. I remember talking to Philomena on the phone, getting updates on how all the 1st and sometimes even how the 2nd cousins were getting on! She always bore gifts when she traveled to Ireland, whether it was “exotic” Canadian candy or our first chess set. The chess set didn’t come with a board so John Kilroy made us one from a cereal box. That summer, instead of getting up to no good in the fields surrounding Gortogher, we stayed indoors playing chess for hours on end.
Auntie Philomena was an exceptionally warm and kind person. My brothers and I have many fond memories of her visiting when we were on holidays in Mayo as children. I was so glad to be able to get to know her as a grown-up during my time in Toronto in the mid 2000s.
She changed my life in at least a couple of ways- AND she introduced the Kennedy brothers to pizza 🙂
She will be missed. My heartfelt condolences to Steve, Michelle and Dean.
Auntie Philomena you’ll be dearly missed!
I have nothing but good memories of all her visits to Florida over the years, and our trips up to Toronto.
I remember her as always being in a cheery mood, easy-going, and quick to laugh and smile. I enjoyed the regular phone calls we’d get growing up where she’d share all the latest goings on in the family.
Steven, Michelle, and Dean you have my deepest sympathies.