Edna May Phelan
February 23, 1938 to December 18, 2024
Obituary
The service for Edna Phalen will be livestreamed from St. John the Evangelist on December 23, 2024 at 10 a.m. The service can be viewed from the church’s Facebook page. Please click the following link to view: https://www.facebook.com/SJTETopsail/
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother and the matriarch of our family, Edna May Phelan (nee Squires) on December 18, 2024.
Edna is predeceased by her husband Herbert; parents Albert and Florence Squires; parents-in-law Herbert and Mary Phelan; sisters Jean Sears, Florence Brown; and brother Roy Squires.
Mom was much loved and will be forever missed by her children Paul (Charmaine), Glenn, Colette, and Sean (Chat); grandchildren Justin, Krista, Erin, Kyle, Liam, Ryan, Zacharey, Kristian, Devon, Braedon, Meghan, Nicholas and Samantha; great grandchildren Kane, Hunter, Kash, Finn, Isabelle, Abby, Emily, Paulius, Erika, Marty, Gigi and Jay; sister Violet Lynch; brother Albert Squires (Pam) and Donny Squires (Claudine) and sister-in-law Odette Squires and dear cousin Joy Taylor. Also left to mourn a large circle of extended family and friends including her late husband Herbert’s family.
While returning home one day from nursing school in the late 1950’s, a magical moment triggered by the Bell Island ferry being stuck in the Tickle ice enabled Mom to meet the man of her life, Herbert Phelan. They fell in love and married on St. Patrick’s Day in 1961. Together they raised four children. She remained a dedicated and caring wife until he passed away in 1991, and continued to consider herself married to the day she died.
Her loving personality led her first into a job teaching kids in school at West Mines on Bell Island from 1954 to 1956, before she then moved to St. John’s to attend the General Hospital School of Nursing. Graduating in 1959, her love of nursing and caring of patients was felt by residents and staff through the years at the Sanatorium, General Hospital, Janeway, Exon House and Hoyles-Escasoni until her retirement in 1993.
Mom enjoyed life to the fullest and family was always the heart of everything. She loved to be surrounded by music, family and friends throughout her life. In retirement, she was even more active, travelling globally with friends, daily walks with special friend Hilda, welcoming visiting family and friends, caring for her mother, discovering new hobbies, and helping raise her grandchildren. She loved hosting summer BBQs, pot-luck dinners, and Christmas/Easter dinners for family and grandkids. Mom was the centre of the universe for her family. Her kids, grandkids and great grandchildren were her pride and joy.
Our Mom spent her last years in the care of the staff at Chancellor Park and we wish to thank all the staff of 1 East for their compassion and support in this most difficult time.
Visitation will take place at Carnell’s Funeral Home, 329 Freshwater Road, on Sunday, December 22, from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Funeral service will be held from St. John the Evangelist, 22 Rectory Road, Topsail on Monday, December 23 at 10 a.m. Interment will follow in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Mount Pearl.
In lieu of flowers the family is suggesting donations be made to the Alzheimer Society of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Collette I am so sorry for your loss. My condolences to you and your family
So sorry to hear of Edna’s :passing’,We we’re classmates of the General Hospital.§cool of Nursing. Class 59..I have so many fond memories of our time spent together then”She was loved by all..My deepest sympathy to her family..
Paul and Charmaine
So sorry for your loss! Thinking of you and sending condolences.
Sending our Condolences to Paul Glenn Collette and Sean Aunt Edna will be deeply missed by all .. Im sure she had her dancing shoes on as soon as she got to heaven .. May She R.I.P I will always cherish are visits xo Thinking of you all and what a beautiful service love your Cousins Val and Bill and Aunt Violet 💜💜
Sean and family, please accept my condolences on the passing of your mother. May your memories help you through this difficult time.
Sean, I was sorry to hear of the passing of your Mother. Please accept my condolences for your loss.
Paul, Glenn,Colette & Sean
I hope you still remember me as the father of your childhood friends ( Denise and Brian) your Larkhall neighbours in the early to late 1970’s.. As a “come from away / mainlander” and not knowing anyone in Newfound land , it was very fortuitous to buy our home next to your Mom and Dad . As new neighbours I remember your parents inviting my wife and family to come over for an introductory visit. You kids and my kids hit it off from day one and became close friends for the time we lived next door. Your Mom and my wife also became close baby sitting each others kids..
After all these years ,i still have many friends in St.John’s and it is through them I was made aware of your Mom’s passing.
Please accept my condolences as I will pray for your memories of a special mother who raised a special family.
Best wishes to all of you !!!!!!!
Paul, Glenn, Colette, Sean and Families, we are so sorry to hear about the loss of your mom. She was a special person very pleasant and kind. We are sorry we can’t be there we wanted to get on the road early to get ahead of the weather. Please know our thoughts and prayers are very much with you especially at this sad time. May God bless you with strength and His perfect peace knowing your mom is safely in His hands. Life has changed not ended.
Paul, Glenn, Colette, Sean and families, please know how sorry we are and we are thinking of you during this difficult time. Aunt Edna was a very special lady and will be greatly missed. She had a great life and beautiful family and her memory will live on in all of you.
Our love and prayers to you all.
Glenn , Justin and Krista And The Phalen , We Are So Sorry To Hear Of Your Mom , Grandmother Edna Passing Our Sincere Condolences To Her Family & Friends. .
Justin, and the Phalen family, I’m saddened to hear of Edna’s passing. I knew her from working at Exon House. She was a great nurse, very caring and patient with the residents. She often spoke of her family, and loved and was proud of them all. RIP
Sincere Condolences TO all family ,along with the abundance of friends of MRS PHELA N; Myself and wife NELIA met Edna a few years ago; Found her to be a wonderful lady-So sorry to read her Obit ;OUR THOUGHTS AND PRASYERS-GOD BLESS-JIMCAMPBELL(RCAF.RET’D) REAL Estate Broker-Owner-RET’D)-WIFE NELIA CAMPBELL ST. JOHN’S NFLD.
Paul, Glenn, Colette and Sean
Sad to hear of your mother’s passing and sending comforting prayers and thoughts your way. Such fond memories of her laugh and smile at our summer visits to the cabin – thank you for sharing such a wonderful person with us – I’ll never forget her kindness ! May the love she showed you and others comfort us all at this sad time….God Bless…
On behalf of the members of the General Hospital School of Nursing Alumni, I want to express to Mrs. Phelan’s family our deepest sympathy at her recent passing. Mrs. Phelan will be remembered during the roll call and minute of silence at our next annual Alumni dinner. Also her name will be recorded in the Memorial Book honouring deceased graduates of the School of Nursing.. Sincerely, Jeanette Walsh on behalf of Linda MacPherson, President, General Hospital School of Nursing Alumni
Paul, Glenn, Collett, and Sean
My deepest sympathies on the passing of your Mom. I have many happy memories of times at your family home, the cabin, and trips to the rink to play hockey with your Mom at the wheel. Your Mom was a very special person and though she is gone I’m sure you will always have fond memories to warm your hearts. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Tony
Paul,Glenn,Collett& Sean
My sincere condolences on the passing of your Mom. I have many memories of your house on Larkhall and your Mom welcoming me into your home. I hope that your memories are a comfort to you all at this difficult time. My thoughts & prayers are with you.
Margo (Stewart) Hand
It was a pleasure meeting Edna while she was living at Tiffany Village. She was so kind and caring to many of us us, her nursing career was always there, Sincere sympathy to all her family.
It was a pleasure meeting Edna while she was living at Tiffany Village. She was so kind to many of us and her nursing career was always there. Sincere condolences to all her family.
Sean and family! So sorry to hear of your mom’s passing. My thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time.
Paul, Charmaine and the entire Phelan family – Our deepest sympathy and condolences to you and yours. Please know our thoughts are with you at this difficult time.
Mark & Michelle Fardy, Waterloo, ON
Please know we are thinking of you all at this very sad time. Take the time and grieve. There is no time limit.. We all know she, as all moms would want us to be happy and I’m sure she is happily reunited with her loving husband. May that bring you some peace knowing of such a wonderful reunion. I will keep you all in my prayers. Sending you all so much love.
Sharon and Peter
Glenn. My condolences on your Mom’s passing.. May your memories bring much comfort to you..
To Glen,Paul family and friends. So sorry for the loss of your mom. She certainly sounds like she was a wonderful woman. Thoughts and prayers for you and your family at this difficult time. Donny and Ruby Colbert
There are no words to console you on the loss of your very special Mom. She loved you all so much and was always so much fun to do things with. She is probably the reason I became a nurse .
All the memories I have of you guys growing up . I often stayed with you overnight and when your Mom came home she would make all our breakfasts and drive us all to school.
I had never been driven to school before so felt so important. She had that way about her.
She called me back in the early 70s and helped me and Brenda have an anniversary party for Mom and Dad.
I know when Mom moved to Paradise she thought your Mom would visit more but she was so busy with all her grandchildren and was so happy doing so.
The past few years have been hard on all of you I’m sure but you gave your Mom the best possible care she could have.
We are all blessed for having known her .
So very sorry for your loss 🙏
Edna’s Family Your beautiful mom and I worked together at Exon. She loved our residents and always
took time to chat and listen. Living near we often walked and talked our way home across the parkway Edna enriched many lives with her friendship. A life well lived cherish the love she gave and your good memories.
Sean-thinking of you & your family and sending sincere condolences on the passing of your mother.
Cherish your memories and may they bring you comfort in the coming weeks.
There are so many memories of this lady. She was the person mom called in emergencies, like when I split open my head on a fire hydrant. She was also there when mom needed to go to the hospital to have one of my siblings. And she was there to give the best birthday parties for my cousins, and not make fun of the kid who didn’t want mustard or ketchup on his hotdog. And everyone got a prize in musical chairs. Paul, Glenn, Colette and Sean, thanks for sharing your mom with us. You know how special she was. So did we. May she rest in peace, knowing all of you are proof she ‘done good’. Hugs!
To ednas family my heartfelt condolences. I am from bell island but worked with Edna at exon house an absolute joy to work with . Rip sweet lady
Paul, Glenn, Colette, Sean and extended family. Edna was a wonderful person.. Will always remember her fondly and with love.