Bridget O'Hara Jarvis

Bridget O’Hara Jarvis was many things — a daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, aunt and friend. She was a painter, a gardener and a dedicated PTA member. She was the life of the party and usually the reason you were having a party in the first place. Bridget passed away on July 6, 2023, at the age of 63, and is survived by the large and loving family that was the center of her life. She was born in New Orleans on November 11, 1959, to William J. O’Hara Jr. and Gerardine Mills O’Hara, who preceded her in death. Growing up near the shore of Lake Pontchartrain and Bayou St. John, she attended Cabrini High School and loved sailing with her brothers on their family sailboat, Sinn Fein. After some time in college and a short stint in the workforce, Bridget met Thomas Jarvis, who would quickly prove to be the man who could match her adventurous and fun-loving spirit. Tom was traveling for work in the early days of their courtship, and after she told him she was a great sailor, he returned for their next date with a sailboat, ready to learn. It was the first great story of what would become a 42-year marriage. Bridget and Tom were married on June 27, 1981, and made their home in Mandeville at the lush and peaceful edge of Bayou Castine. They had three children, Katie Lockwood (Chris), Bradley (Katie Jones) and Stephanie Bolyard (David), who all stayed close to home to build their own families. Bridget and Tom’s house became an ever-buzzing hub of family life. They helped care for their nine grandchildren: Elizabeth, Charlotte, and Abigail Lockwood; Noah and Eli Jones and Vivi and Fin Jarvis; and Anna and Claire Bolyard. Family was everything to Bridget, and she kept them close. She was a sister to William J. O’Hara III and his wife Susan O’Hara, Robert G. O’Hara and his wife Peggy, and Richard M. O’Hara and his wife Betty. She is preceded by William, Robert, and Peggy, and survived by Susan, Richard, Betty, and her nine nieces and nephews and their spouses. She is also survived by the Jarvis family: her mother-in-law, Gloria Jarvis, and Tom’s siblings, William Jarvis (Sufong), Jacalyn Brennan (Michael), Jamie Jarvis, Jennifer Stark (Richard), and Julie Reid, as well as 15 nieces and nephews and their spouses. She is preceded by her father-in-law, Charles Jarvis, and brother-in-law Paul Reid. Bridget was a strong and determined person. Having suffered a debilitating spinal cord injury in 1998, she was determined to continue to live life to its fullest. From mountain climbing in Colorado, rafting in New York, to island-hopping in the BVIs, she never let her injury confine or define her. When she wasn’t spending time with her husband, children, and grandchildren — who called her Honey — she was very active in her community. She was a member of the Friends for Life PTA group, the Hue Dat art club and the Pontchartrain Yacht Club. She had an art studio in her home where she spent time painting, and she loved orchestrating the Shady Neighbors community garden down the street. The details of Bridget’s life paint a beautiful picture (just as she could), but they can’t fully capture the love she radiated or the infectious energy with which she lived her life. She will be missed and remembered every day. A Celebration of Life will take place at Pontchartrain Yacht Club, 140 Jackson Ave, Mandeville, Louisiana 70448 on Sunday, July 16, 2023 from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM. The Jarvis family kindly invites you to share thoughts, fondest memories, and condolences online at E. J. Fielding Funeral Home Guest Book at www.ejfieldingfh.com. E.J. Fielding Funeral Home locally owned and operated, (985) 892-9222 has been entrusted with funeral arrangements. In lieu of flowers, the Jarvis family would like to honor Bridget’s memory with contributions to the Lacombe Art Guild and Safe Harbor. Donations can be made online for both organizations. Safe Harbor also accepts donations by mail at PO Box 1179 Mandeville, Louisiana 70470.

Bridget O'Hara Jarvis

November 11, 1959 - July 6, 2023