Margaret "Mary" Eleanor (Shiels) Wybert Obituary (1933

Margaret Mary Eleanor Wybert, known affectionately as "Mary" to her friends and "Mum" to her family, passed away peacefully at her home on December 11, 2025. She was 92 years old. Born in Dublin, Ireland, on May 2, 1933, Mary was the eldest child of Thomas Patrick Shiels and Mary Margaret (Elton) Shiels. Her upbringing was shaped by the complex history of her homeland. Her father, a typesetter for the Irish Independent, had supported his brother Joseph during the 1922 Easter Rising. These early experiences instilled in Mary a lifelong sense of privacy and a cautious, discerning nature—attributes that stayed with her long after she left the Emerald Isle. At just 15 years old, Mary's childhood was cut short by the sudden passing of her father. As the eldest of six, she shouldered the responsibility of supporting her family, taking in laundry and sewing while working with the local nuns to complete her education. In 1950, at the age of 17, she displayed remarkable courage by sailing to Winnipeg, Canada, to pave the way for her family. She secured employment at the Eaton's Department Store, successfully establishing a foundation for her mother and siblings to follow. It was at Eaton's Department store in 1955 that she met Don Wybert, a young navigator with the Royal Canadian Air Force. Their meeting sparked a 70-year partnership. Shortly after their wedding, Don's military career took them to Bagotville, Quebec, where they began their family. Together, they raised five children: Sean, MaryEllen, Michael, Patrick, and Rory. The family eventually immigrated to the United States. Later in life, Mary was a familiar and friendly face at the Target department store in Hillsboro, where she worked for several years. This past October, Mary and Don had a monumental milestone: their 70th wedding anniversary. Mary was predeceased by her parents; her sisters, Sister Frances Marie (Betty), Cecilia, and Margaret; and her uncle, Joseph Shiels. She is survived by her husband, Don; her children, Sean, MaryEllen, Michael, Patrick, and Rory; her sister Eileen of Toronto, Ontario; her sister Sheila of Las Vegas, Nevada; and her brother Tom of Kitchener, Ontario and her six grandchildren: Nikki, Zachary, Deidra, Kelsey, Evan and Dillion and her four great-grandchildren.