MARIE ANNE MCLAFFERTY, the Original Irish Washerwoman, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family after a brief illness on Saturday, March 2, 2019 at the age of 95 years.

Mom was born in Bellevue, in the Blue Canadian Rockies, on April 22, 1923.

She married Hugh Patrick McLafferty on October 30, 1946. For 65 years, they had a special bond and were forever a team, first living in Bellevue and then moving to Lethbridge in 1955 after the mines closed.

Mom was the perpetual worker bee and, to this day, thinks her retired daughters should have jobs.

Upon her retirement in 1985 from Microtel (Automatic Electric), she and Hugh began a new life in Calgary. They built a beautiful new home with new adventures in mind. They were very active with ballroom dancing, exploring Calgary and following the family in their athletic pursuits, as they were their biggest fans. In 2003, they returned to Lethbridge to be closer to their growing extended family.

After Dad passed away in 2011, Mom - though legally blind - continued to live independently at Martha's House and participated in the weekly blind bowling league. She was full of energy; she would walk the halls with her pedometer and count the miles. She was always entertaining people with her witty remarks. Everyone has heard her say, "Go straight home and don't talk to strangers!"

Our "Special Mom and Grandma", who was so proud of her family, will be forever missed by her daughters: Sheryl Holthe of Lethbridge and Colleen (Grant) Frier of Blairmore; her granddaughters, Kelly (Tom) Mortlock of Medicine Hat and Shannon (Cheyno) Finnie of Lethbridge; her seven great-grandchildren, Marcus, Russell, Nathyn and Jordan Mortlock of Medicine Hat and Marshall, Emmitt and Payton Finnie of Lethbridge.

Mom is also survived by her favourite younger sister, Eileen Jensen of Calgary.

She was predeceased by her son-in-law, Ron Holthe of Lethbridge, in 2010.

Mom will be forever remembered as a feisty, tiny woman. As she always said, "Good things come in small packages" and she was dynamite!

          Mom's Irish eyes were always smiling

          Her death leaves a heartache no one can heal

          Her love leaves a memory no one can steal

A special thank-you to the awesome staff on 4C at the Chinook Regional Hospital for the wonderful comforting care and to her new friend, Susan, for the laughter and kindness.

As per Mom's wishes, there will be a private family gathering.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Kidney Foundation of Southern Alberta (Lethbridge Chapter): #507, 740 - 4 Street South, Lethbridge, AB T1J 0N9 or to the Lethbridge Association of the Blind: 2905 - 12 Avenue South, Lethbridge, AB T1K 0R2.