Bridget Mary Garrett
February 3, 1935 - February 18, 2021
Obituary
2/3/1935-2/18/2021
Our beautiful Mother, Bridget Mary “Bridie” Garrett passed away peacefully on February 18, 2021 surrounded by her loving family. She was born on February 3, 1935 to Christopher Martin and Bridget Mary Reid in Dublin, Ireland. She had five siblings Kathy, Tom, Rose, Pauline and Sheila. Sadly, her older sister Kathy died as a toddler. Bridie grew up on Galtymore Road in Dublin surrounded by her loving parents, grandparents and numerous aunts and uncles. She spent much of her childhood at her Grandad and Granny Halpin’s farm in county Wicklow where she spoke fondly of her time playing with the working dogs on the farm. She left this world on the feast of Saint Bernadette of Lourdes which was only fitting as Saint Bernadette was her favorite saint as a child. So much so that she took the name of Bernadette for her confirmation.
At a young age, Bridie had a deep devotion to her faith and the Catholic Church and she dreamed of becoming a nun working with the foreign babies. As a young girl she joined the Dominican Order with the guidance of her Aunt, Sister Dorthea. She traveled by ship to America at the age of 16 and she eventually settled in Tacoma, Washington. She left the Dominican Order after seven years.
Bridget was an elementary school teacher at Holy Rosary Church in Tacoma where she met the love of her life, Michael D. Garrett, at a Catholic Youth Organization Dance. They were married on February 7, 1959. Together they had seven children, Maura, Christopher, Michelle, Brenda, Angela, Selene and Bridget (Bridgeen). Tragically, Brenda died at birth. Throughout the years, Bridget and Mike lived in Tacoma WA, Des Moines WA, Janesville WI, West Covina, CA and eventually returned to Washington State in 1977 settling in Seahurst, WA. They enjoyed attending Irish functions where Mike played in the band and Bridget would mouth every word of every song without even singing. One of their favorite activities was taking long family drives. Mike passed away in 2004. Bridget spent her later years living in Des Moines and Normandy Park, WA.
Bridget continued her career as a school teacher up until the birth of her third child. She stayed active in the church teaching religious education at St Martha’s Catholic Church in La Puente, CA and later at St Francis of Assisi Church in Burien, WA. Over the years she was actively involved in prayer groups at St Martha’s, St Francis and St Philomena’s. She treasured being a Eucharistic Minister bringing communion to the homebound. She volunteered at the Crisis Clinic and also worked at the Boeing Company for several years.
Bridget spent many years lovingly caring for her beloved daughter, Angela, who passed away in 1998 following a three-year long battle with brain cancer. She cherished caring for others. She loved life and was a strong woman of faith with a deep devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. She had the opportunity to make several pilgrimages to Yugoslavia, France and Venezuela. At the time of her death, she was a member of Saint Philomena’s Catholic Church in Des Moines. She was also a member of the Irish Heritage Club where she loved to spend many hours joking and calling herself and friends the FBI (foreign born Irish). She loved and considered the Dominican Nuns to be her family. Later on in life, her favorite outings were to visit Calvary Cemetery and visit all the nuns who had passed on before her.
We are going to miss Mom’s beautiful accent which was really strong when she was happy or mad. She had so many funny sayings like calling all boys “Go Boys”, all laziness was known as a “slither” and all her children were called at one time or another “bad reared brats”. Mom’s failing eyesight and memory impacted her quality of life in the end. She loved to spend time with her kids and grandkids, going to church, shopping, eating in restaurants and visiting the cemeteries.
Bridget is survived by her sisters Rose and Pauline, her children Maura, Christopher (Sally), Michelle (Kelly), Selene (Rob) and Bridgeen (Rich); her grandchildren, Michael (Amanda), Nolan (Megan), Mariah (Miguel), Colin, Lexie (Cassidy), Celina, Bridget, Garrett, Sophie and Mark; and her Great-Grandchildren Audrey, Aiden, and Serenity. She is also survived by her step-grandchildren Tessa and Chris; great-step grandchildren Cierra, Sean, Chandler, Amari and Mia and her great-great step grandchildren Evalena and Dahlyla. Bridget is preceded in death by Michael, her parents Christopher and Bridget, her daughters Angela and Brenda, brother Tom, sisters Kathy and Sheila, and son in law Arlan.
Due to the restrictions of COVID-19, the family will be holding a private service at St. Philomena’s Church and burial at Calvary Cemetery. We invite you to “Share a Memory” at www.bonneywatson .com online obituary page for Bridget Mary Garrett.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Bridget’s name to Wesley Home Hospice at the Wesley Community Foundation Wesleychoice.org
I remember Bridies beautiful smile & the way her eyes sparkled when she was chatting. She always had all the time in the world to listen & chat. She made you feel very special 💗 I loved listening to her stories about life in America & her childhood.
May you Rest In Peace Bridie xxx 💞
God saw you were getting tired
And a cure was not to be.
So He put his arms around you
And He whispered come with me.
With tearful eyes we watched you suffer
And watched you fade away.
Although we loved you dearly,
We could not make you stay.
A golden heart stopped beating.
Hard working hands to rest.
God broke our hearts to prove to us
That He only takes the best.
It’s lonely here without you.
We miss you more each day.
Life doesn’t seem the same
Since you went away.
When days are sad and lonely,
And everything goes wrong,
We seem to hear you whisper,
Cheer up and carry on.
Each time we see your picture
You seem to smile and say,
Don’t cry, I’m in God’s hands.
We’ll meet again someday.
Rest In Peace Mom.
I have fond memories of Bridget Reid Garrett when we both entered the Tacoma Dominican Community in Crosshaven, Co. Cork, Ireland. She was a gentle, loving young woman whose aunt, Sr. Dorothea was in the Community. She continued to stay connected with the Dominican sisters. I send my love, support, and sympathy to her children, family both near and in Ireland. May she rest in Peace. Mary pat Murphy, OP