Loretto
O'Driscoll
(née McCarthy)

1933 - 2024

Loretto O'Driscoll (née McCarthy) passed away at her home in Westmount, Quebec with her family at her side on April 15, 2024. She was the loving wife of the late Prof. Denis O'Driscoll, and devoted mother of John (Sylvie Fortin) of Montreal, Niall (Helen MacIntyre) of Kingston, and Gillian (John Toth) of Westmount, and late daughter Aisling of Barrie. She was the fond grandmother of Brigitte, Denis, David, Katalina, Olivia and Tara. She leaves behind her loving sister, Renee Swift of Youghal Ireland. She was predeceased by her dear brother and sister, Karl McCarthy and Noelle Fitzsimons.

Kane & Fetterly

Obituary

Loretto O'Driscoll (née McCarthy)

1933 - 2024

Loretto O'Driscoll (née McCarthy) passed away at her home in Westmount, Quebec with her family at her side on April 15, 2024. She was the loving wife of the late Prof. Denis O'Driscoll, and devoted mother of John (Sylvie Fortin) of Montreal, Niall (Helen MacIntyre) of Kingston, and Gillian (John Toth) of Westmount, and late daughter Aisling of Barrie. She was the fond grandmother of Brigitte, Denis, David, Katalina, Olivia and Tara. She leaves behind her loving sister, Renee Swift of Youghal Ireland. She was predeceased by her dear brother and sister, Karl McCarthy and Noelle Fitzsimons. 

Loretto was born in Cork Ireland, to Patrick McCarthy, a Department Head and Inspector at the Crawford Technical Institute, and Helena Healy, who did her nursing degree overseas at the Philadelphia Women's Hospital. She spent her childhood in Garrycloyne, just outside of Blarney, in a setting that remained golden in her heart, and to which she was grateful to bring her children and grandchildren to visit in her retirement. Loretto did high school at St. Angela's Cork and then attended St. Angela's College in Sligo, where she was a scholarship student in their inaugural 3-year Domestic Science Program. After graduation, she taught at the Cork School of Commerce. She met her future husband Denis at a dance at the Imperial Hotel and they had their first date on MayDay weekend in 1957, a date they continued to celebrate all their lives. 

In 1959, Loretto emigrated to Montreal to marry Denis who had gone ahead to prepare the way. They were married at St. Patrick's Basilica and were devoted partners for 62 years, loving, thoughtful, appreciative, and romantic. They were devout Catholics who prayed on their knees at night and lived their faith in their actions. In Canada, Loretto worked first as a teacher in Montreal, and then in Edmonton. When Denis was appointed to the Queen's University Faculty of Education, the family moved to Kingston, where she became an active and committed volunteer for numerous organizations from the Food Pantry, to the Cancer Lodge and the Consumers Association of Canada. She visited shut-ins in long-term care with her children on weekends, and hosted them for Christmas to sit by the fire and enjoy dinner en famille. When her children entered high school, Loretto studied Communications and Marketing at St. Lawrence College where she graduated with distinction and began working with the Kingston United Way. She then became the Executive Director of the Kingston Social Planning Council, coordinating social services in the city, before earning a First Class Honours degree in History and Sociology from Queen's University. In 1986, she pursued her real estate licence, and was hired by Graham Thomson, where she was a sought-after real estate agent for 15 years. She was also a long -time member of the Kingston Gaelic Society and the Newman Book club. 

Loretto was energetic, organized, and effective, as well as kind, attentive, and thoughtful -- the best kind of support and advocate. She would step in to help anyone in need. She loved creating an elegant, welcoming environment in her home for her family and visitors, filling it with flowers and music, creating artistically presented gourmet dishes, and had a gift for generating an ambience of warmth and love. She was an amazing mother who supported her children and grandchildren in every pursuit, encouraging and helping in every way she could. She gave credit for intentions and was always understanding, even empathically defending the sometimes unruly behaviour of our pets. Loretto spent her last 10 years in Westmount, where she and Denis lived across the street from their daughter. Loretto's devotion made Denis' years of illness happy ones, and they were loving partners to the end. In her last years, Loretto had the help and friendship of wonderful caregivers who enriched her life with their affection, cooking, artistry, and conversation, and to whom she was deeply grateful: Dennies and Cecilia Alexander, Andrea Henderson, Veronica Stanislaus, Jordan Berzins, Johanne Gauthier, and Saliem Teklu. 

Her funeral will take place at Ascension of Our Lord Church In Westmount on Saturday, May 4th at 1:00pm, with visitation starting at 12:15. The funeral recording will be posted on the Kane & Fetterly website (https://www.kanefetterly.qc.ca/en/funeral.php), accessed by clicking on her name. Donation in her memory can be made to Doctors Without Borders