Mary Chawner   (nee Molsy Doran)

December 2006

Mary was born on the 28th May 1937, to the Doran family of Kilkee, and schooled in the parish of Ballon, Co. Carlow. Her main memories of school seem to be related to the contents of the coal shed. Many of you, I understand, will have had similar experience.

On leaving school, she tried several jobs including that of “Nanny” but none really suited her. Then she saw an advert. for nurse training, in Sheffield, applied and crossed the waters.

In England she successfully trained as a nurse, in which profession she worked until recently, only taking time out to have and raise a family of four. Her last nursing job was at a palliative care hospice, the Sue Ryder Care Home in Moggerhanger, Bedfordshire. Mary had to retire early from nursing due to back problems, but she soon became bored and went back to work as a receptionist at the home, and later became the manager of a fund raising “Good As New” clothing outlet until November 2005, when she retired again.

Throughout her life Mary worked to raise funds for those less fortunate than herself. As a child she collected pennies for the missions. She raised money for the cubs and scouts in Hadfield, Derbyshire, and raised funds for the Red Cross becoming a Town Leader. At the Sue Ryder Home, she soon became involved with the fund raising, forming the “In-House Support Team” which managed to raise a few thousand pounds. She also became involved with the Nearly New Sales which originally ran once a month over a complete weekend. She also had a succession of book shops, all raising money for the Home. Her last book shop is still running, now managed by one of her many grand children. It has a web site http://www.marysbookshop.co.uk

Mary did not enjoy the best of health throughout her life and for some time suffered gastric reflux for which she took medication. In May 2006 she was diagnosed as having inoperable cancer of the stomach and adjacent areas. She died in Kirkwood Hospice, Huddersfield on 5th October 2006, in the company of her children and husband.

Mary has returned to Ballon, where she is buried with her parents.

 
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