In Memory

Sr. Mary Tighe

Mary died peacefully in the loving care of the staff and sisters at Sallyville House after a short illness.

Mary was born in Kylemelawn, Errill, Co. Laois to John Tighe and Teresa nee Delaney.  She was predeceased by her parents and all her siblings: Maura, Norah, Lena, Paddy, Breda, Rita, Ann, Teresa and Angela.

Mary is sadly missed by her nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, extended family, many friends and her St. John of God Community.

Mary attended primary school in Errill and secondary school in Ardah, Co. Longford. She entered the St. John of God Novitiate on 08.12.1940.  Following her Profession, she continued her education in Bath, Summerset and then completed her teacher training in Hull Yorkshire.

In 1944 she started her teaching ministry in Fishponds, Bristol and then continued in Trowbridge, Wiltshire. In 1957 Mary moved to London where she ministered for 40 years in Christ the King primary school. There she served as Headmistress for many years.

All schools in England had been bombed during the war and were in very poor condition. The school in London had been a private school but in the tenure of the SJG Sisters it became a state school. Mary was instrumental in bringing the school into a new era.

In 1997 after 53 years in education and many other teaching related roles, she retired to the SJG community in Rathdowney, Co. Laois. This gave her a lovely opportunity to reconnect with family – especially the younger generations – and she really appreciated this time. She was a valued member of the parish.

Mary retired to Kilkenny Convent in 2012 and finally to Sallyville House in 2017. Her hobbies were writing, reading true stories, non-fiction, religious books and watching TV.

She was blessed to be able to celebrate all her jubilees, Silver, Golden, Diamond, Platinum and the only SJG sister ever to celebrate her Oak jubilee i.e. 80 years. This occurred at the same time as her 100th birthday and she had a wonderful celebration surrounded by her family, many friends, staff and community. A tree was planted in the grounds of Sallyville House to mark the occasion.

Throughout Mary’s life her ability to connect with and support people was phenomenal and this was her ministry until the last two weeks of her life.

It was fitting that Mary reposed in Sallyville House Chapel surrounded by all who loved her and where she spent hours in prayer daily. Here her final farewell was celebrated with a beautiful evening prayer.

Mary’s Funeral Mass was celebrated in St. Patrick’s Church, Kilkenny, by Fr. Martin Delaney PP from her native Errill parish. She was buried in Foulkstown Cemetery, Kilkenny, alongside her three SJG sisters Sr. Agatha (Norah), Sr. Dympna (Lena), Sr. Aloysius (Rita).