Mary Elizabeth McKeon

Obituary for Mary E. McKeon

Mary Elizabeth McKeon (Lily), a beloved wife, mother, grandma, great grandma passed away peacefully on Sept 17, 2023.  Lily was born to Charles & MaryAnn O’Rourke on August 4, 1931, in Dromahair, County Leitrim, Ireland.

Lily grew up on a farm in County Leitrim, Ireland until the age of 16 when she joined her sister Peggy in Dublin.  She worked as a shop clerk and bookkeeper.  On Christmas Eve 1952 on the train home to Leitrim, Lily met Bernard (Benny) McKeon when he helped to put her suitcase on the train.  Benny and Lily married in 1953 and spent 59 years together until his death in 2012.  Shortly after their wedding, Benny and Lily emigrated to Canada and eventually found their way to California where they raised four children. 

Lily’s greatest joy in life was her family.  She filled our home with good food, music, laughter, and good friends that became family.  Benny was the light of her life.  She cared for him through many years of illness that showed us the meaning of true love. 

Lily leaves behind her four children, Michael, Marybeth (Chris) Rhodes, John (Louise) McKeon, and Katherine (Paul) Cassidy; 12 grandchildren: Noah McKeon and Julian McKeon; Josh (Jessamy) Rhodes, Kara (Josh) Smith and Jeffrey Rhodes; Brian (Stephanie) McKeon, Thomas McKeon, Jack McKeon and Katie Rose McKeon; Kiara Cassidy, Connor Cassidy and Kaitlin Cassidy; and 1 great-grandchild Cooper McKeon; her brother Desmond (Eileen) O’Rourke and many nieces and nephews. 

Lily touched the lives of many people throughout her 92 years, and she will be dearly missed.  Mom, you have lived a good life and you fought a good fight, rest easy now with your beloved Benny.

Services will be held on October 6, 2023, at 1:30pm at Mission San Luis Rey Parish, Oceanside CA, followed by graveside burial at Mission San Luis Rey Cemetery. 

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