Mary Ellen Kirby

Kirby, Mary Ellen, of Huntington Beach, CA, and formerly of Harwich Port, MA, passed away on Monday, October 11th at the Hoag Memorial Hospital in Newport Beach, CA after a long illness. She was 68 years old. Mrs. Kirby was the widow of Clarence W. Kirby. Mr. Kirby was a Navy veteran who served in the Gulf of Tonkin during the early years of the Vietnam War. He died in 1990. Mr. and Mrs. Kirby settled in Huntington Beach, CA in 1962 where they raised five sons, all of whom survive. Mrs. Kirby was born in Milford, MA on January 1, 1942, the second of the five children of the late John and Dorothy O'Donnell. With her family, she moved to Harwich Port, MA in 1947. Mr. O'Donnell was for many years Postmaster in Harwich Port and Mrs. O'Donnell was active in state and national politics, and was a long-time associate of former Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis. Mrs. Kirby attended the Harwich public schools and was a 1960 graduate of the Harwich High School, where she played on the girls' varsity basketball team. She worked for many years as a proofreader at Pacific Design Services in Anaheim, CA. She was active in school and community organizations in Huntington Beach, and in veterans' affairs in Orange County. Accompanied by her Mother, the then-Democratic National Committeewoman from Massachusetts, she attended the 1980 Democratic National Convention in New York City, and was seated with the California delegation. After her retirement in 1996 she traveled extensively across the United States and also made several trips to Melbourne, Australia to visit her sister, Therese Connell. She is survived by five sons, Michael J. Kirby of Eugene, OR, Christopher W Kirby, Paul M. Kirby, Todd R. Kirby and Mark P. Kirby, all of Huntington Beach, CA; by her sister, Therese M. O'D. Connell of Melbourne, Australia; and by three brothers: Richard J. O'Donnell of Minneapolis, MN, John J. O'Donnell, Jr. of Orleans, MA and William G. O'Donnell of Chicago, IL. She is survived also by 10 grandchildren and four nieces and nephews. A Funeral Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated at St. Bonaventure Catholic Church, 16410 Springdale Street, Huntington Beach, CA at 11:00 A.M. Wednesday, October 20th. A celebration of her life will be held immediately following at the home of Mark Kirby, Westminster CA 92683. Internment will take place on November 12th at the Riverside National Cemetery, Riverside, CA. Flowers may be sent to St. Bonaventure's; www.stbonaventure.org. Donations may be made in Mrs. Kirby's memory to American Legion Post 291, 215 East 15th Street, Newport Beach, CA 92663; www.al291.com.