Mary Kelly Obituary (2022) – Toledo, OH
Sister Mary Brigid, 84, died on January 4, 2022 at the Rosary Care Center in her 65th year of religious profession. Born to immigrant parents, Margaret (O’Sullivan) Kelly and Edward Kelly, Irene Brigid, the middle child of a family of five, received a solid Catholic education. Life revolved around church, work, school, family and a social club that her father had established to help the widows and children of Irish people who died young.
Irene entered the Sisters of Notre Dame in 1955 and received the name Sister Mary Brigid. She wanted to live life “to the fullest” after watching her father almost die in a hunting accident while in college. She wanted a life dedicated to God and a chance to do things that “make a difference” in people’s lives.
Sister Mary Brigid has helped make a difference in many lives through teaching and ministry. After graduating from Notre Dame Academy and earning a BA in Education from Mary Manse College, Sister taught grades 5-8 for 21 years at Sacred Heart, Bethlehem; Saint-Jean, Delphos; Saint-Wendelin, Fostoria; Saint-Joseph, Fremont; Saint-Joseph, Maumee; Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Carmel, Indiana; and the Académie Notre-Dame, Christ-Roi, Sainte-Anne and Saint-Louis, Toledo.
Obtaining a Master of Arts in Religious Education opened up many opportunities in religious education and pastoral work, as Religious Education Coordinator at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish in Carmel, Indiana and Director of religious education in St. Mary, Sandusky and St. John, Delphos and ministering services in Cicero, OH and Indianapolis, IN. In 1998, she began the ministry of chaplaincy in hospitals in Tiffin and Toledo and mental health services through the WRAP program. She also volunteered in the prison ministry at the Toledo Penitentiary.
Sister is predeceased by her parents, Edward and Margaret (O’Sullivan) Kelly; her brother, Edward; and her sister, Mary (Kelly) Flahie. Sister is survived by her brothers, Alexander and Michael. She will be sadly missed by family, friends and the religious community, to whom we wish this Irish blessing: “May the everlasting light of the perfect love of Christ and the glory of his holy peace fill you with hope and joy. .
Visitations will be on Monday January 10 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., and the funeral liturgy will be held at 4:30 p.m., both at the Sisters of Notre Dame Center, 5900 Davis Road, Whitehouse, Ohio. Interment will take place at the Resurrection Cemetery on January 11 at 9:30 a.m. Tributes can be paid to the Sisters of Our Lady at 3912 Sunforest Court, Toledo. Arrangements are made at Urbanski Funeral Home, A Life Celebration Home, 5055 Secor Road, Toledo.
Posted by The Blade on January 9, 2022.