Mary Gaffney (formerly Sr Placidus)

Deceased Sisters

Mary Gaffney (formerly Sr Placidus) - United Kingdom
17/04/1927 - 15/04/2019

Sister Mary Gaffney was born in Lisdrumrea, Kilnagross, Carrick-on-Shannon, County Leitrim, Ireland on 17^th April 1927. Her parents were Patrick Gaffney and Mary Loreto Gaffney (nee McCarron).

Mary was the eldest of six children, four boys and two girls. She was predeceased by two of her brothers. Her formative years were nurtured by a family of deep faith and a lively trust in theprovidence of God. Mary often made reference to this point and never ceasedto thank God for this rich legacy passed on to her by her parents.She received her early education in the local National School and from there she went, for her secondary education, to the Marist Convent School Carrick-on-Shannon where she was a boarder.

On completion of her secondary education Mary responded to a call to religious life by entering St. Brigid’s Novitiate in September 1945. This call was supported by her parents and family as she followed in the tradition of her cousin, who was a founding member of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace and of her aunt who was later to become Superior General of the same Order. However, it was to the Marist Congregation that Mary felt drawn. Sister Mary made her First Profession on 1^st September 1947, after which she was assigned to England and had her first taste of community life in the newly founded house in Sunninghill, Berkshire. From 1947 to 1954 she had teaching experience in the Senior School and was responsible for the boarders in the evenings.

From 1954 to 1956 she attended Digby Sturt Teachers’ Training College in Roehampton, London. On completion of her teacher training course she went to Seaford College of Housecraft in Seaford, Sussex for a year. Sr Mary then taught in Sunninghill Senior School until 1964 when she was appointed Head teacher in the Senior School at the Marist Convent in Fulham, London. A comment made by a Marist colleague to a past pupil, “Mary Gaffney could teach anything” sums up her ability as a teacher.

In 1967 Sr Mary became community leader in Paignton, Devon and also did some teaching in the Senior School, taking on the role of head teacher in 1970 until 1974. In 1974 Sr Mary went to live in Bracknell, Berkshire where she became head teacher of St Tarcisius’ Middle School in Camberley, Surrey, moving to West Byfleet the following year and continuing as head teacher in Camberley until 1982. Many of her past pupils fondly remembered her with appreciation and kept in touch with her byemail, telephone and the occasional visit. Royal mail were kept well occupied, especially during the Christmas season, delivering her mail! In 1982 Sr Mary attended a Spirituality Course at Regina Mundi College, Rome.

On her return she was appointed head teacher in the Marist Convent School in Fulham from 1983 until 1989, when she took on the role of Headteacher in the Marist Convent Senior School, Sunninghill until 1996. During this time she served as Provincial Councillor. In 1997 she took a Sabbatical year and attended a Spirituality Course at the Dominican Life Centre in Boston, USA from January to April.

She was then appointed as Community leader in White City until 2002, and was a support worker at the Notre Dame Refugee Centre in Leicester Square, London, where she ministered until 2008.

In 2001 Sr Mary was appointed Provincial Secretary to the new Provincial, Sr Mazarello Clyne, moving to New Malden in 2002. It is with deep gratitude that the Sisters of the Unit of England remember Mary for her availability, generosity and unstinting service as Provincial Secretary, Archivist and Trustee of the Province of England.

Mary’s interests were wide and varied ranging from Six Nations Rugby to Royal Ascot followed by Wimbledon Finals as she would cheer on her favourite tennis player, Andy Murray, while engrossed in the commentaries by her past pupil Sue Barker. Her love of poetry and literature never waned and was expanded and enriched by her use of modern technology which greatly interested her.

She retired to Villa Maria, Hythe, Kent in December 2018 where she died peacefully on 15^th April 2019. Following a Requiem Mass in Villa Maria on 25^th April 2019, attended by her sister, brother, nephews, nieces and Marist Sisters, Sister Mary, surrounded by her Gaffney and Marist families, was laid to rest in Hawkinge Cemetery.

Karl McCloskey, the present principal at the Marist in Sunninghill said, “Sr Mary Gaffney was a softly spoken, gentle, woman of substance. Her great wisdom was distilled through reflection. She was highly principled and her great hearted goodness shone through her, exerting a positive influence.”

Deceased Sisters

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