Obituary of Angela Monahan

It is with sadness the family of Mary “Angela” Monahan announce her passing at the Kiwanis Nursing Home on February 5, 2026 at the age of 96.

Born in Southfield on December 8, 1929; she was the daughter of the late Thomas and Mary (McGinnis) Byrne and the wife of the late George Monahan.

Mom’s strong Catholic faith was a constant during her life.  Through the loss of family that she endured in her late 30’s and early 40’s, her faith in God gave her the courage and strength to forge ahead.  She always found great comfort in prayer.

Mom returned to work in 1970 after Dad passed away.  Her career as a Ward Clerk began when she started working weekends at the Moncton City Hospital ultimately gaining a full time position.  In 1975, we moved to Saint John where Mom started working at the General Hospital (Saint John Regional).  She worked there as the Ward Clerk in the Neurosurgery Department until her retirement in 1994. It was here where Mom started many lasting friendships with the nursing staff and others.

Mom was dedicated to Al Anon and its members. Even though her circumstances had changed over the years, she was able to rely on her personal experiences to help others.  She actively attended weekly meetings for as long as she could and this gave her solace.  There were many late night phone calls where she would listen and provide comfort to someone going through a difficult time and she was always willing to help.  Her compassion and empathy for those that were hurting was so strong.

Mom’s great passion was sewing.  She was an accomplished seamstress, a gift she inherited from her mother.  In addition to her own stylish wardrobe, Mom made countless wedding gowns, bridesmaids and prom dresses for many friends and family.  Our living room floor was always covered in fabric and dress patterns.  I don’t know how many pins and needles that Lou and I stepped on when we were trying to navigate our way to the kitchen.  It was a danger zone!

Despite the challenges she faced early on, Mom lived a full and vibrant life.  She was blessed to spend her entire life living close to her brothers and extended family.  Mom’s bond with Paul, Carolus and Maurice was unique and strong and they were always there for her when she needed them. The four of them relied on each other for support or advice when an important decision needed to be made. 

Mom was blessed to have nephews and nieces to help her as she grew older. She loved them like her own and one of them was always doing something for her. It could have been Teresa taking her to doctors appointments or Mary, Lisa and Monica and all the Monahan nieces visiting her at the Kiwanis and celebrating her birthday with her.  Meaghan was often called upon for medical advice and Kevin was always there when we needed him most.

It is hard to find the right words about the Mom’s impact on Lou’s and my life.  Mom was strong, independent woman and sometimes stubborn (a Byrne trait for sure) and these qualities served her well when she needed them.  Mom became a single parent at 40 and she had to figure how to do it all.   Mom immediately knew it was her sole responsibility to raise us and get us ready for the world. She worked hard and made so many sacrifices for us as we grew up.  She was a firm believer in education and encouraged us to follow our dreams and do whatever we need to achieve them.  When the time came for us to move away to Calgary and Toronto, we knew the move wasn’t easy for her but she never said anything. She loved us dearly and we both know how proud she was of both of us.  Her pride grew even more when Avery was born and she became a grandmother.

As time passed, Mom moved to Scenic View Special Care Home and Mercy Burge and her staff took such great care of her especially through COVID.  As her needs changed, she moved to Kiwanis Nursing Home where Christine Corbett, Candace Keays and the entire team treated her with so much care and compassion.  In her last week, Cindy Keays was so good to Mom and made a difficult time easier for all of us.  There just aren’t enough words to say how grateful we are to all of them.

For Lou and I, our enduring belief will be that we could not have achieved what we did without Mom’s unwavering faith in us.

She is survived by her sons: Lou Monahan (Barb) of Calgary and Shawn Monahan (Tracy) of Halifax and by her granddaughter, Avery of Sydney, Australia; her sisters-in-law, Claire Byrne, Patricia Byrne and Carol Byrne; as well as several nieces and nephews.

Along with her parents and loving husband, she is predeceased by her brothers: Paul, Fred (Carolus), and Maurice Byrne.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Wallace Funeral Home, 34 Sunnyside Drive Sussex where visitation will be held on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, from 3-8pm. The funeral mass will be held on Thursday, February 12, 2026 at 11:00AM from Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Norton, NB.

Donations in memory of Angela may be made to Sussex Vale Transition House or the charity of the donor’s choice. Personal condolences to the family and charitable donations may be made through: Wallacefuneralhome.com