Funeral of Offaly native who died in England to take place in Tullamore

The death occurred in Birmingham on January 11 of Tullamore native Mary Coady of Convent View.

The youngest of the nine, Mary had moved to Birmingham in 1968 where she remained until 1998 when she returned to live and work in Tullamore for a number of years to be close to her sister Sue Hensey of Convent View.

In 2008 Mary returned to Birmingham where she remained until her death following a short illness.

In her youth Mary was a champion Irish dancer for which she won numerous awards, she also enjoyed amateur drama. But it was as an advocate for those less fortunate from which she derived the most satisfaction.

She helped to set up the Lane Neighbourhood Centre in the Moseley area of Birmingham in the late 1970s, providing help and support to local women about benefits, domestic violence, clothes swaps for their children, trips out. 

Always a champion for the underdog, Mary began volunteering at St Basil’s night shelter in 1976 where she eventually got a permanent job. Mary subsequently went to college to qualify as a social worker, following which she worked in education for Birmingham City Council for many years until she retired early in 1998. 

For the last few years Mary had experienced mixed health but she was fortunate to be cared for by her family and continued to remain in her home where she died peacefully surrounded by her loved ones.

Mary is survived by her daughters Susan, Carol, Helen and Valerie, 10 grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

Funeral Mass will take place at 10am in the Church of the Assumption, Tullamore on Wednesday March 22 with the interment of her ashes afterwards in Clonminch cemetery.