To view Livestream of the Funeral Mass for Catherine “Mary” (Kiernan) Walsh May 11, 2021 at 10:00am.
Catherine “Mary” (Kiernan) Walsh, 81, of Jamaica Plain, died Thursday, May 6th, 2021 after a long illness. She died peacefully at home surrounded by family.
Born in Slane, Co. Meath, Ireland to Brigid and John Kiernan, Mary was fiercely independent and left home at age 17 to attend nursing school in Manchester, England. She emigrated to the United States in the 1960s and settled in the Boston area. She worked at the Robert Brigham Hospital in the orthopedic unit and her passion for working with the elderly led her to work in several elder care facilities during her long career as a nurse.
Mary’s greatest love was her family, both near and abroad in Ireland. She made countless trips across the Atlantic with her girls over her lifetime on Aer Lingus including her last trip in 2019. Her happiest memories involved time spent with her four grandchildren.
A devout catholic, Mary had particular devotion to the Blessed Mary and her faith guided her through many life challenges including the death of her baby boy Paul and several serious illnesses.
She loved her JP neighbors, the Boston Red Sox, crossword puzzles, gardening, and she was devoted to her rescue cat, Zoe.
Mary is predeceased by her parents, her infant son Paul, her twin brother Paddy, and her brothers Fr. John Kiernan and Louis Kiernan. She is survived by her daughter Michelle and her son-in-law Craig Bradford of Walpole, her daughter Jennifer and son-in-law Todd McNeil of Millbury and her grandchildren Sean and Keira Bradford and Amelia and Quinlan McNeil, her sisters Breda and Imelda and her brothers Seamus and his wife Mary, Aidan, Paul and his wife Christine and several nieces and nephews.
Visiting hours to be held in the William J. Gormley Funeral Home, 2055 Centre St., West Roxbury on Monday, May 10th from 5pm - 7pm. Private funeral mass and burial will be held the next day at 10am from St. Thomas’ in Jamaica Plain. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Mary’s name to the Angell Memorial Animal Shelter in JP or the Boston VNA. To livestream the funeral Mass please visit www.harborview.live For guestbook and directions www.gormleyfuneral.com