Mary O'Brien

Mary Margaret O'Brien

Jan. 16, 1921 - July 17, 2013

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Mary Margaret O'Brien, age 92, passed away at the Golden Living Center in Cozad on Wednesday, July 17, 2013.

Mary was born in Wauneta, Nebraska, on Jan. 16, 1921, to Otto and Alice (Benjamin) Walker.

Mary graduated from Wauneta High School in 1938.

She married James E. O'Brien, Jr. on Sept. 10, 1938, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in McCook. To this union were born three sons and a daughter.

James and Mary lived on the family farm south of Imperial until 1946, when they moved to Benkelman where Mary worked as a retail clerk and later for Dr.'s Stout and Lopez.

In 1962, they bought a farm near Enders and Mary worked for the County Extension Office in Imperial. She completed course work to become a medical records technician in 1975 and was the medical records technician for Chase County Hospital until her retirement in 1982. In 1981, they moved to McCook. In the last year of her life, Mary lived at Stonehearth Assisted Living in Gothenburg and the Golden Living nursing home in Cozad.

She was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church in both McCook and Imperial as well as St. Joseph's in Benkelman. Mary was a 50-year member of the Dundy, Chase and Red Willow Counties home extension clubs. She was a lifetime member of Altar Society and a member of Our Lady of Fatima circle in McCook. Mary enjoyed sewing, knitting and reading. She was a cat lover and had adopted several over the years.

Survivors include her sons, Maurice O'Brien and wife, Carolyn of Kearney; Daniel O'Brien and wife, Lora of McCook; daughter, Margaret Ortegren and husband, Jack of Johnson Lake; daughter-in-law Norma O'Brien of Lincoln; 14 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren, and four nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, James on Nov. 2, 1995; son, David; and brother, Roger Walker.

Visitation will be Monday, July 22, 2013, from 1-- 7 p.m. at Carpenter Breland Funeral Home in McCook.

Rosary will be Monday, July 22, 2013, 7 p.m. at Carpenter Breland Funeral Home.

Mass of Christian Burial will be Tuesday, July 23, 2013, 10:30 a.m. at St. Patrick's Catholic Church with Father Andrew Heaslip as Celebrant. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery.

Memorials may be given to the Calvary Cemetery Re-pavement Project.

Friends may send condolences online at www.carpenterbreland.com.

Carpenter Breland Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.