Mary Ellen Frantz O’Halloran of Huntsville passed away peacefully on Monday at her home at the age of 86 after a long battle with leukemia. She was surrounded by her loving family. Mary Ellen was born in Philadelphia, PA on August 7, 1934. After graduation from Little Flower High School, she attended Fitzgerald Mercy School of Nursing, graduating in 1955 and beginning her nursing career as a pediatric nurse at Fitzgerald Mercy Hospital. A blind date while in nursing school led to her 55-year marriage to Donald M. O’Halloran. Immediately after their wedding in 1957, the couple moved to Indianapolis, IN while Don served in the Army at Fort Benjamin Harrison and Mary Ellen continued working as a pediatric nurse. They returned to the Philadelphia area in 1960 when Don was discharged from the Army, settling in Levittown, PA. Don, Mary Ellen and their growing family of 11 children moved to Huntsville, AL in 1971 when Don was promoted to audit manager of the Redstone Arsenal office of the Army Audit Agency.
In 1974, Mary Ellen joined the first registered nurse refresher course offered by Huntsville Hospital, where she began working as a registered nurse upon completion of the course. When she retired in 1996, Mary Ellen had been part of the Neuro Progressive Care team for 21 years where she was known for her kind and competent patient care. She is also fondly remembered by the many nurses she helped to train throughout her career. As Huntsville Hospital’s Outstanding Nurse in 1986, Mary Ellen was the first recipient of the Molly Ritch Award, given annually by Huntsville Hospital to the member of its nursing service who best exhibited the qualities of “dedication, caring, competence and human compassion.” Mary Ellen’s friends and neighbors also benefited from her nursing skills, often relying on her calm and reassuring attention and care.
Mary Ellen was an active member of Holy Spirit Catholic Church where she served in many of the parish ministries throughout her 50 years as a parishioner. She enjoyed traveling and spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Mary Ellen was preceded in death by her husband, Don, and son, Brendan. She is survived by 14 children, Michael O’Halloran, Huntsville, Donna Dery, Huntsville, Elizabeth O’Halloran, Huntsville, Sharon Parker, Cotaco, Cathy Drake, Albertville, Kevin O’Halloran, Tampa, Danny O’Halloran, Huntsville, Barbara O’Halloran, Huntsville, Brian O’Halloran, Tampa, Sean O’Halloran, Huntsville, Matthew O’Halloran, Huntsville, Chris O’Halloran, Huntsville, Margaret Stanley, Huntsville, and Emily Forte, Huntsville; 25 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and numerous others whom she considered to be her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 2 at Laughlin Service Funeral Home. On Thursday, June 3, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, a Rosary will be held at 9:30 a.m., followed by the Funeral Mass at 10 a.m. with Father Michael Mac Mahon officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Holy Spirit Perpetual Adoration Building Fund or your favorite charity.
