Mrs Mary Mulvaney

MRS Mary Mulvaney, formerly of Greenacres, Vianstown Road, Downpatrick, died peacefully on October 18, after a long illness.

Mary was born and raised in County Tyrone, before training as a teacher in Belfast.  It was there that she met her husband, Sean, a Killough man.  

Due to Sean’s work in Customs and Excise, the couple and their young family moved several times between England and Northern Ireland, before settling in Downpatrick in the late 1980s.  

Mary taught throughout her life, apart from when she was raising her four children.  

She initially trained as a maths teacher, serving secondary schools in Hull, before becoming a primary school teacher.  

Subsequently, Mary taught at most of the primary schools in Downpatrick at one time or another.  

She was therefore a familiar face to several generations of school children in the town.  Mary was known as a strict but caring teacher, who applied great integrity and dedication to her work.  

Above all, she was passionate about helping children and young people achieve their full
potential and improve their life chances.

Mary greatly enjoyed travelling and enjoyed many camping holidays in France and Germany, as well as trips to far-flung locations including Singapore and the USA. She was always keen to embrace local cultures and experience all that a destination had to offer.  

Aside from her work, Mary enjoyed watching football and snooker, as well as listening to music, especially Elvis.  

She was a very keen wordsmith, and it was a brave person who tried to bamboozle her with a dubious word whilst playing her beloved Scrabble. She also took comfort in her faith throughout her life.  

In later years, sadly Mary succumbed to Alzheimer’s disease, gradually losing most of her faculties to this dreadful illness.  

In her final years, she resided first at Ardview House in Ardglass and then for the last five years at Strangford Court Care Home in Downpatrick, where she was cared for with great dignity and compassion.  

Mary’s Requiem Mass was held at St Patrick’s Church, Downpatrick, on October 21, with Fr. Murray officiating, followed by interment at Struell Cemetery, Downpatrick.

She is survived and sadly missed by her children, Paul, Elaine, Fiona and Joanne, and grandchildren Thomas, Jarlath, Rachel and Andrew.  She will also be missed by her wider family circle and friends.