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August, 2005
In Memoriam of River Friends
Ursula M. Callanan
By Susan Morrissey
Christmas night last, a good number of the very numerous Callanans were sipping champagne in front of the fireplace at David and Barbara's house. The Christmas tree crowded the room a bit, exuding a sprucy scent, and an intermittent swarm of giggling grandchildren passed through now and again, some lingering to lounge on a friendly lap.The fire crackled away like the conversation among the famously (some might say notoriously) quick-witted Callanans, and Grampa Jim, known to all the kids as Bumpa, raised his glass to his wife of 52-plus years.
What did he say? I wish I could remember exactly, but the moment and sentiment stayed with me. Something to this effect: "Ursula, look what we've done. Look at these kids, all this family, and it all began with you and me!"
Ursula, dressed for the season in a tasteful New England Patriots sweatshirt, laughed and returned the toast. "That's right Jimmy. If we'd only known what we were getting into!"
It was their last Christmas together, but of course, we never guessed. Ursula, wife, mother of 7, grandmother, great-grandmother, loving sister/aunt/mother-in-law, friend of many, registered nurse, master organizer, traveler, sports fan, beach-lover, golfer, river runner, fun-haver extraordinaire, always surprised everyone. She was full of it, and I mean life. We all figured she'd charge on to be 100. Apparently, she had another plan. She left us suddenly, when we least expected her to, on a golf course in South Carolina, characteristically in the thick of things. Ursula, eulogized as a dynamo, never one to waste a minute, left us all in her wake. No doubt she had to arrive up there early, to get things ready for the rest of us.
Michael Timothy McCarthy, 29
Mr. Michael Timothy McCarthy, 29, of Standish, died Tuesday, June 21, 2005 at Maine Medical Center in Portland following a short illness with malignant melanoma.
He was born in Manchester, N.H., on March 9,1976, the son of Timothy and Brenda (Wickey) McCarthy of Derry, N.H. He was educated in the Westfield, Mass., school system and the Derry, N.H., school system. He graduated from Pinkerton Academy with the Class of 1994. While at Pinkerton he was on the Tennis Team and in the Ski Club. Michael graduated from Southern New Hampshire University with the Class of 2000. He later moved to Maine where he has resided for the past five years.
Michael played hockey for MRYHA from 1985 to 1994.
He was formerly a communicant of St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Derry, N.H.
He worked as a white water rafting guide for Crab Apple Rafting Company, The Forks, Maine, until his illness.
Besides his parents, survivors include a brother, Greg McCarthy of Derry, N.H.; a sister, Katie McCarthy of South Boston, Mass.; his paternal grandparents, Jeremiah and Barbara (Lingley) McCarthy of Manchester, N.H.; maternal grandmother, Helen (Welch) Wickey of Manchester, N.H., and several aunts, uncles and cousins. He is also survived by his girlfriend, Autumn Willison and her parents Gary and Lynn Willison of Standish and his dog Baxter.
Printed in the Portland Press Herald 6/24/2005
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