Sister Mary Cabrini McGroary died peacefully at the motherhouse of the Columban Sisters, Magheramore, Wicklow on 26^th April 2005. 

She was 89 years old.  Her warm and welcoming presence endeared her to all. 
 

Funeral Mass was celebrated on Thursday April 28, 2005 after which she was laid to rest in the convent cemetery.
 

Born on 2^nd April, 1916 in Owenboy, Donegal, Sarah Ann McGroary became a skilled seamstress before emigrating to the United States to join her older sister in New York in 1947. Two years later she joined the American based novitiate of the Missionary Sisters of St Columban at Hyde Park, MA where she made her first vows in December 1951.  Following her profession she was missioned to California where she taught for many years in the Sisters’ schools of Our Lady of Guadalupe and Westminster parishes. A diligent student she obtained her BA degree from Boston State College.

Sister Cabrini lived and worked in various parts of the US for more than 50 years and was renowned for her dedication to prayer and for a variety of missionary activities which she undertook with great zeal. She was an inspiration to all who knew her.

To contact the Columban Sisters,
E-mail:  

weboffice@columbansisters.org

The  funeral took place on 28th in Magheramore, a wet and blustery April day. Her nephew, Brian Ward and her nieces Cabrini Arnold and Elizabeth Brennan with their families made the long journey to be with their beloved aunt. Her two sisters, Rose and Margaret, were unable to travel but were with us in spirit.

Columban Sisters came from the different communities and we were fortunate that Sister Carmen Maldonado was here. She knew Sister Cabrini in the US and gave a fitting talk in her memory.

The Eucharist was celebrated by Fr Pat Donohoe, our chaplain, with Fr Kevin O’Boyle and Fr Jim O’Brien concelebrating. The rain lifted and the sun shone as we processed to the graveyard and laid our dear sister to rest. May God receive his good and faithful servant with joy.