Maria Walsh was freed from all limitations and called home to the Lord on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2014. Funeral: Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 14, at St. John the Apostle Catholic Church in North Richland Hills. Interment: 2:30 p.m. in Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery. Rosary: 6 p.m. Thursday in Forest Ridge Funeral Home Chapel, 705 Airport Freeway, Hurst, visitation 6:30-8:00 p.m. Memorials: The family asks that, in lieu of flowers, donations be considered to the Trinity Arts Guild, P.O. Box 212003, Bedford, Texas 76095, or at trinityartsguild.org. The second of four children, Maria was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, on October 6, 1930. Her parents were George Cordingley of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and his wife, Teresa, of Scotland. When Maria was 4 years old, her mother died from complications of strep throat and scarlet fever. As the ambulance was taking Teresa away, she asked her best friend, Mary Downey, to look after her babies. Together, George and Mary raised their blended families in Toronto. Maria attended Corpus Christi School from grade one through eight, then on to Loretto College School. Maria met Thomas Walsh at Mutual Roller Skating Arena where Tom worked as a cruiser. They were married Aug. 5, 1950, in St. Michael's Cathedral, Toronto. Tom and Maria became U.S. citizens when Tom joined the U.S. Air Force. As a military family, they moved every few years, with their five sons born in the far-flung locations of Waco; Burlington, Vt.; Wimple Park, England; Mildenhall, England; and Greenville, Miss. When Tom retired from the military, his Air Force experience landed him a position at the then-newly built Dallas-Fort Worth Airport, which led to their final relocation to Hurst in 1973. Maria was a devoted wife and mother, doting grandmother, homemaker and gifted artist. She was known for her delicious pies and fabulous lasagna. She spent countless hours researching the genealogy of her family. She was a prolific painter and active member of the Trinity Arts Guild. Her beautiful landscape oils and meticulous water color portraits adorn the walls of many friends and family members who are lucky enough to have been gifted with one of her beautiful works of art. Maria was a longtime member of St. John the Apostle Catholic parish in Richland Hills, where for many years she volunteered her time by keeping the songbooks in good repair. Maria lived out her final years in the loving and devoted care of two of her sons, Patrick and Robert. She was preceded in death by her parents, George and Teresa Cordingley; adoptive mother, Mary Downey; husband, Thomas Walsh; and brother, Al Cordingley. Survivors: Sisters, Carm Taylor of Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada, and Margaret Hollands of Orilla, Ontario, Canada; son, Thomas and wife, Irene, of Joshua; son, Robert of Hurst; son, Shawn of Bryan; son, David and wife, Annette, of Spring; son, Patrick of Hurst; 10 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Published in Star-Telegram on Feb. 12, 2014