Opal’s Obituary Opal L. McCann, age 93, passed away peacefully on Thursday, March 7, at her home in Dillsburg, surrounded by her family. She was the beloved wife of Harrison N. McCann to whom she had been married for 72 years. Opal was recently predeceased by her husband of 72 years, Harrison, who passed away on March 2, 2019.
Born October 30, 1925 in Hardin, Missouri, she was the daughter of Charles W. Mayden & Nora Hawkins Mayden, also natives of Hardin. Upon graduation from high school, Opal went to Kansas City, Missouri to work as a payroll clerk for the American Optical Company. While there she waited for her fiancé, Harrison N. McCann, to return from the South Pacific during World War II.
They were married June 27, 1946. Harrison went on to serve a 43 year career with the US Navy. Together they moved 24 times during those years when they were stationed at bases on both coasts.
They also spent 3 memorable years in Japan. She cared for their three children during Harrison’s active career. She enjoyed traveling and exploring the areas where they were stationed, in the Far East, Europe and all of the United States.
Once, when her husband was stationed on an aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean, she joined other Navy wives traveling from country to country to wait for the ship’s arrival in a port. Where ever they were stationed, Opal made important contributions to the local community. At various times she volunteered as a Red Cross Grey Lady; a Brownie, Girl Scout, and Cub Scout leader, and school room mother to assist her children’s activities.
She was active in Garden Clubs in Virginia Beach, Va. She served as church treasurer, secretary, Sunday School and Bible School supervisor, and other church offices in many towns where they lived. She was the president of the NCO Wives club while stationed in Japan, and amazed many when she got permission for wives to tour the Japanese Imperial Castle at a time when it was usually not open to the public, and certainly not to foreign visitors.
For several years Opal enjoyed working as a school secretary at an elementary school in Norfolk, VA. She was a talented seamstress who sewed all of her own and her children’s clothing and created heirloom quilts for her children and grandchildren. When Harrison & Opal retired to Dillsburg, PA, she became an active partner in his antique/collectibles/flea market business, attending many auctions and antique shows in the local area with Harrison.
Opal was preceded in death by her brothers Marvin Mayden of Lexington, Missouri; Hubert Mayden of Richmond, Missouri; and sister Helen Edgar of Ft. Myers, Florida. Opal is survived by her three children: Linda Wrenn of Baltimore, Maryland, CAPT Jett C. McCann USN (Ret.
) of Fairfax, Virginia and his wife Linda Flavin, and Dale H.N. McCann of Dillsburg, Pennsylvania. She has two grandsons, T. Russell Wrenn and his wife Erin Fitzpatrick; and, Alex Harrison Wrenn of Baltimore, Maryland. Three great grandchildren T. Ronan Wrenn, Cormac McCann Wrenn, and Cavan Wrenn, also of Baltimore, Maryland.
In lieu of flowers please make donation to the local Girl Scout Council of your choice. A memorial service and internment will be at Arlington National Cemetery along with her husband, and will take place later this year.
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